INDIA FAILURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24249, 15 April 1942, Page 5

INDIA FAILURE

STATEMENT DEFERRED ENVOY'S RETURN AWAITED (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 18 Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons, said that instead of making a statement on the Indian discussions, he thought it better to await the return of Sir Stafford Cripps, who might be able to make a personal statement to the House of Commons. Mr. Churchill said he would take the opportunity of saying how much the Government admired the tenacity, ingenuity and patience with which Sir Stafford Cripps conducted the negotiations, although doubtless Sir Stafford felt stricken by the cruel " blow of failure. This in no way lessened the Government's approval of his mission. Jawaharlal Nehru, Indian Congress leader, replying to the statement by Sir Stafford Cripps that Britain would not take further initiative to solve the Indian problem, said: "We do not expect British initiative, because Britain has managed to get completely stuck in her own ruts. W e <l° n °t re 'y Ol * Britain for anything except to obstruct India's political and economic advance. _■ The initiative lies with others who do not live in ruts." ANSWER TO PROTEST CONSULATE AT BRAZZAVILLE UNITED STATES ATTITUDE (Reed. 5.35 p.m. WASHINGTON, April 13 The State Department has informed Vichy that the United States policy toward Frenchmen everywhere is a. friendly one, helping them to maintain or regain control of their own territory. The -Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Sumner Welles, outlined this policy to the French Ambassador, M. Gaston Henry Haye, in a note replying to the latter's protest against the establishment of a United States consulate at Brazzaville, French Equatorial Africa. Mr. Welles pointed out that Free French forces now control Equatorial Africa and the Cameroons, and therefore the United States is dealing with the Free French authorities there, but if the Vichy Government was in control there the United States as a matter of course would deal with Vichy.

GUERILLA LEADERS FAMILIES AS HOSTAGES PROTEST BY YUGOSLAVIA (Reed. 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 13 The Yugoslav Government has received news that the Germans have arrested the families of General Mikhailovitch and 14 commanders of the Yugoslav patriot forces. The Government has issued this statement: "By taking the fighters' families as hostages, the Germans hare again violated the basic feelings of humanity. When the hour of final reckoning comes the Yugoslav Government will demand strict retribution for the crimes the Germans have committed, directly or indirectly, through unscrupulous agents." General Mikhailovitch is in command of Yugoslav forces carrying on guerilla warfare in the. hill country. It was reported that New Zealand soldiers who had escaped from Greece had joined up with General Mikhailovitch and were playing a very active part in this guerilla warfare against the Germans and Italians.

WAR DECLARATION POSITION IN THE BALKANS NEW YOBK, April 13 Asked regarding a report that the State Department had sent a Note to Hungary that a state of war existed with the United States, and similar Notes to Bulgaria and Rumania, the Under-Secretary for State, Mr. Sumner Welles, replied: "Such reports are unfounded because only Congress could declare war." Mr. Welles explained that the United States had not declared war against the three countries because there was general recognition in Washington that they had declared war agarMffe - the United States only under German pressure. However, if it appeared that Bulgaria, Hungary and Rumania were giving effective military assistance to Germany it could be assumed that President Roosevelt would ask Congress for a declaration of war.

DEFENCE OF HAITI UNITED STATES AGREEMENT (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 13 The State Department has announced that the United States and Haiti have signed four agreements. One is designed to materially strengthen Haiti's defences and calls for the United States to install artillery for coastal defence, provide vessels for coastguard patrol purposes in Haitian waters, make military aircraft available to the Haitian Army, and construct a.,railway to Port au Prince. Under other agreements the United States has agreed to purchase Haiti's surplus cotton for the duration of the war, to extend credit to the Haitian National Bank in order to strengthen the dollar exchange, and also to promote increased Haitian production of sisal. SECRET OF NARVIK STOCKHOLM. April 13 German military units are isolated in the Narvik area in order to maintain secrecy concerning fortification construction, which is reported to be proceeding day and night. Residents are forbidden to leave the area under threat of\severe penalties.