INDIAN DEADLOCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24378, 14 September 1942, Page 4

INDIAN DEADLOCK

TBANSFER OF POWER

COUNTRY NOT UNANIMOUS (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 12 At a meeting of leading business men in New Delhi a resolution was passed that the British Government , should forthwith transfer full power to a National Government in India, and provide immediate facilities for the formation of such a Government. The Bengal Chamber of Commerce, on the other hand, made a statement supporting the Viceroy and aligning itself with the policy stated by Mr. Churchill. Mr. Churchill's statement in the House of Commons on India crossed an appeal to him, signed by the political leaders taking part in the talks now going on in New Delhi, asking for a declaration of the immediate transfer of real power to Indian hands and the postponement of all controversial issues. British Labour Critical Mr. Church ill's statement on India was couched in language not calculated to improve British-Indian relations, said Mr. Arthur Greenwood (Labour — Wakefield) in opening a debate on the statement. The Government could not weaken in its determination to prevent the spread of the disobedience movement, but while there was a chink of light it was a very heavy responsibility for any man to slam the door. It did not need Mr. Churchill's kindergarten Jessou to explain the extent and complication of the Indian situation. Mr. F. I'. Roberts (Labour —West Rromwich) said it would take a. lot to convince him that Gandhi was proJapanese. Xehru had taken a prominent part in the leadership of She Indians against earlier Japanese and German acts of aggression. Ifc was deplorable that it should become necessary to imprison these people. Swashbuckling Speech Mr. J. Maxton (Independent Labour Party—Glasgow) said neither Mr. Churchill nor Mr. L. S. Amery, Secretary of State for India, had the faintest desire to give India self-gov-ernment. To do so was not part of their political philosophy. Mr. 0. G. Amnion (Labour —Camberwell) described Mr. Churchill's speech as truculent, swashbuckling and "damn your eyes" in tone. Replying to the debate on India, Mr. Amery said Gandhi had made it. clear that his action was going to be something more serious than any of his previous movements. The Government of India showed remarkable patience as long as it was possible. The Congress Committee would not endorse the sinister designs of its Working Committee, and eventually the Government of India took the only action which any selfrespecting Government could take, and that action had saved India from grave disaster. Mr. Amery's View Mr. Amery gave a brief outline of the recent disturbances in India. He added that the Congress plan would have paralysed India's war effort and made impossible the defence of India or the relief of China by the reoecupation of Burma. Sir Stafford Cripps, who intervened to reply to a question why the negotiations had broken down, said the change took place on the intervention of Gandhi. The Congress Working Committee passed a resolution to accept the recommendations, but Gandhi intervened, and the resolution was reversed. Mr. A nery. in conclusion, said it was not beyond hope that at some time in the not far distant future India might be able to agree upon a constitution acceptable to all. MORE ARRESTS ALLAHABAD, Sept. ,12 Mrs. Indira Gandhi, who is Nehru's daughter, and her husband. Feroze Gandhi (no relation to Mahatma Gandhi), have been arrested. They were to have addressed a meeting which the police dispersed. SHOOTING IN BELGRADE LONDON, Sept. 11 Fifty people were killed and 200 wounded when German troops at Belgrade fired on a crowd demonstrating their sympathy with the British after the Dieppe raid. CABLES IN BRIEF Governor of Ceylon.—The appointment of Sir Andrew Caldecott, who was made Governor of Ceylon in 1937, has been extended, says the British official wireless. Train Accident in Belgium.—Fourteen persons were killed and 100 seriously injured when two trains collided at full-speed near Liege and telescoped, says the Berlin radio. Plane Crashes on Roof.—Six workmen were killed and GO injured when a blazing plane struck the roof of the Curtiss Wright aeroplane plant. The plane caught fire at a high altitude. The test pilot was slightly burned, but parachuted safely to the ground. Visit to Fleet.—The Archbishop of Canterbury recently paid a formal visit to the Home Fleet. This is believed to be the first occasion on which the Primate of England lias visited the fleet in wartime. The Archbishop preached the Sunday morning sermon on the flagship. Technicians lor India. —The State Department has announced the recruiting of American production engineers and technicians for special service in India. Some will be departing soon. American specialists will advise and assist the Indian Government in the erection of new plants and the installation of additional machinery in existing plants, setting up production and expediting the loading, unloading and repairing of ships. Sabotage Conviction.—A message from Cristobal, in the Panama Canal Zone, says a jury in the Federal Court convicted the captain, the chief engineer and two of the crew of the Italian luxury liner Cnnte Bianca Mano of sabotage and conspiracy to damage the ship on March 2">, 1911. Tim defendants said the extensive damage to the machinery was caused by an aeci- | dent and denied that the Italian Government ordered the ship to be j sabotaged. j Repression In Norway.—The Nazi puppet premier of Norway, Quisling, lias published a decree giving the State complete control of all professional and trade union organisations and funds, says a message from Stockholm. The organisations are forbidden to dissolve and their leaders forbidden to resign. The decree is expected to arouse widespread'opposition from the Norwegian workers. The underground press for weeks has been urging resistance against such a move. Royalty at Albert Hall. —The Kings of Norway, Greece and Yugoslavia, also Prince Bernhardt of the Netherlands, representing Queen Wilbelrnina, attended a concert held at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday under the patronage of the King and Queen in honour of tlio British and Allied merchant navies, says the Brijish official wireless. Other visitors included the President of Czecho-Slovakia, Dr. Bones, all five of the Dominion High Commissioners and a number of ambassadors.