INVITING CHAOS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24346, 7 August 1942, Page 4

INVITING CHAOS

GANDHI'S REQUEST THE ISSUES IN INDIA BRITAIN'S RESPONSIBILITY JfO CHANGE DURING WAR By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Rerd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. Aug. 5 Sir Stafford Cripps, in a statement to the Times, says: "Gandhi asks •• Britain to walk out of India, even if it means chaos and confusion. What does this chaos and confusion actually mean? All government based on the existing constitution would immediately cease. There would be no Viceroy, no Executive Council and no Civil Service of any kind. Provincial Governors, the Government and Legislatures would cease to function. There would be no authority to collect revenue and nothing ■with which to pay for any Government service. "In this chaos Gandhi proposes to establish a provisional Government, but, as there is no lectoral machinery, and no law concerning representation, it at best would be no more than a Government nominated by himself and 6iich other leaders of Indian opinion as might be willing to work with him. Others might defy Gandhi's provisional Government. No Practical Suggestion "Chaos in India at present would not •only affect India, but the entire war against the Axis." said Sir Stafford. "Because of the difficulties inherent in any attempt to change control in a country as vast as India v wo recognise that a complete change-over to a new •constitution is impossible during the ■war. No practical suggestion h;.s been advanced since I left India. No one will •expect Britain or the Government of India to give way to threats of violence, •disorder and chaos. Indeed, representatives of large sections of Indian opinion 3iave expressly warned us not to do so. 11 We make no threats, but must nesert our duty to India, _ to the minorities and to the United Nations to preserve law and order until the end of the war, when we will give, as promised, ft full opportunity for the attainment of Indian self-government. It is not yet too late for Indians to decide upon .rapid ordered progress. Britons are as 'determined upon Indian self-government ;j&s Indians themselves. "We ask for patience, not because we "want delay, but because the hard facts ■of war make a change impossible at present,'-' concluded Sir Stafford. . Support For Firm Hand The Daily Mail's Bombay correspondent says Gandhi is believed to have assured the Congress leaders that his proposed campaign will bring victory to the Congress Party within a month. The Daily Telegraph's political correspondent says that in no circumstances will the Government of India allow any ■civil disobedience movement to get out •of hand and hamper the prosecution of ",the war. The Government of India will 3iave the full support of the British and all political parties at Westminster, even if it is necessary to •arrest the Congress leaders and take ■other drastic 6teps. A new statement issued in London "to-day makes it clear that the Government will not consider any claim by the 'Congress Party for an immediate British withdrawal from India. Authoritative -circles declare that if the committee ■endorses the civil disobedience policy the Government of India will not allow •a campaign to be organised. The British statement emphasises that jthere can be no doubt about the transference of power to India after the war, l)ut there can be no question of immediate cession. MR. NASH PRAISED ' WORK FOR NEW ZEALAND (Special Correspondent) {(Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 5 " Mr. Nash is a very great acquisition, He made valuable contributions in the council." said Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, in an interview. There is every reason to believe that this view is widely held among those ■whom Mr. Nash met. Commodore W. E. Parry also commented on the very high regard with which Mr. Nash was held in Washington and New York. Mr. Nash was asked by three people in " high places " for full copies of his suggestion that a world war council, composed of Britain, America, Russia and China should be established. He was also asked for copies of his suggestion for a post-war reconstruction developments council. Mr. Nash addressed the Empire Parliamentary Association in the House of Commons committee room. The Secretary for the Dominions, Mr. C. P. Attlee, presided over the meeting. Members of all parties in the House of Lords and tl\e House of Commons and some Dominions' M.P.'s at present serving: with the forces were present. Mr. -Nash's subject was the "Relations of the United States in the Defence of the pacific." Later Mr. Nash lunched with the executive committee of the association. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Kirigsley Wood, presided. Among those whom Mr. Nash met included Air ViceMarshals H. W. L. Saunders and 11. A. Cochrane, Major-General 11. H. Dewing. who holds a special War Office appointment, and Sir Walter Elliott. Mr. Nash visited the New Zealand Forces' Club, whore lie met many members of the Forces. One of them was Sub-Lieutenant I). Prenderville, of (Wellington. The men warmly praised the club's facilities. Mr. Nash also talked to Miss M. Thurston, who keeps in touch with all the men and visits many New Zealanders in hospital in England. Mr. Nash had a busy day. He had discussions with Ixird Barnby about wool and also saw Lord Keynes and members of the Treasury and Lord McGowan, of Imperial Chemical Industries. He discussed New Zealand and British agriculture with the Minister for Agriculture, Mr. R. Hudson. He attended a meeting of the War Cabinet. AIDING DEFAULTERS PRISON FOR SCIENTIST (Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY, Aug. 6 Two men convicted here of a conspiracy to help young men evade military service have been sentenced to one year's gaol. They are Bruce Irwin Miller, aged 26. a scientist, and Panos Chrvssikos, aged 05, an agent. The police alleged that Miller gave Injections to young men to produce in them temporary symptoms of illnesses, which would onable them to fail in their tests when called up for military service. They claimed that Chryesikos acted as Miller's agent, making contact with men about to be called ,Up and bringing them to Miller, , A police witness stated that Miller was jiot a doctor, but had remarkable mental attainments. He had carried out synthetic rubber experiments which had been placed in the hands of the military authorities.