STATUS OF INDIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23772, 27 September 1940, Page 8

STATUS OF INDIA

COMING DISCUSSIONS VICEROY AND MR. GANDHI HOPE FOR AN AGREEMENT By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received September 2(5. 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Sept. 25 The Secretary of State for India, Mr. L. S. Amery, in a speech to the Overseas League in London, referred to the meeting which Mr. Gandhi will have with the Viceroy of India, the Marquess of Linlithgow, in the next few days. "One can only hope," said Mr. Amery, "that tho outcome of the discussions may he an agreement consistent both with Mr. Gandhi's conscientious objections to war in general and with the Viceroy's no less conscientious conviction and duty to allow nothing to stand in the way of India's wholehearted effort to play a part in the struggle, which concerns her present welfare and security and all the ideals her peoples hold dear." Dealing with the constitutional position, Mr. Amery said tho Act of 1935 was still in essentials tho work of tho British Government and Parliament, and was based on the existing structure of the Indian Government and inspired by British ideas. The main permanent framework of the future constitution of India as a Dominion was now a matter for the Indians to settle for themselves. Essential Compromise "The whole constitutional field, relations of the various parts and elements of India to the whole, methods of election and representation, all these matters are open to re-examination," said Mr. Amery. "Only, as in the case of every Dominion, or for that matter of any federation in tho past, there must be that measure of agreement, of consent, and necessarily, therefore, of compromise, between the main constituent elements that have in future to live and work together, which is a preliminary condition to free selfgovernment. "In this matter, Britain has now made clear one of the essential implications of India's future status, while imposing upon Indians one of the first responsibilities of that status. It is obvious that a change so far-reaching both in the structure and in the very basic authority of India's Government cannot take place at a moment when the whole Commonwealth is in tho throes of a struggle for its existence."

Nazis and Religion Mr. Am cry added that the Nazis' doctrine was a direct attack upon the, 1 spiritual basis of all religion. It was as; profoundly opposed to Islam, with it,s insistence on the equality of all m</.n before God, and on the supreme virtues of justice and mercy, or to Hinduism, with its deep-seated hatred of violence and cruelty, as it was to Christianity.

"The onslaught of the Nazis threatens the soul of India as it threatens ours, and there is no Indian who does not realise that menace," said Mr. Amery.

MIDDLE EAST AIRCRAFT ACTIiVE ITALIAN BASE B 0-M BED ENEMY RAIDS ON KENYA LONDOtN, Sept. 25 A comr.iunique issued in NairoM today state:;: "Aircraft off the South African Air Force successfully raided Sciasciamanna aerodronYe (Abyssinia) for the third time in the s past fortnight. Heavy boiribs fell on the aerodrome and one Italian aircraft on 'the ground was destroyed. Normal reconnaissances were carried out by other aircraft. All our machines returned safely. "Italian aircraft attempted two raids on Kenya on Monday, one at Wajir and one on the Tana River area. No damage was done, but there were a few casualties." A Home communique states: "The enemy bombed Tobriik, hitting houses, and civil and military hospitals. Fifteen persons wene killed and 70 wounded. An isolated British aeroplane bombed Kafra, in the Libyan Desert. "We bombed the aerodrome and military fortificatioms at Bur,a Fort, troops in camp near Wajir, and enemy detachments in the vicinity of Coufina, north of GalayaJjat. "The British "bombed Diredawa."