INDIA'S STATUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24833, 5 February 1942, Page 6

INDIA'S STATUS

BRITISH PROMISE REAFFIRMED SELF-GOVERNMENT AFTER WAR FORMIDABLE PROBLEMS (Rec. 7 p.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 3. Britain's often-stated intention in regard to India's Constitution was reaffirmed by the Duke of Devonshire in the course of a debate on India in the House of Lords. After reading some of the concluding sentences of the statement issued by the Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow, on August 8, 1940, the Duke of Devonshire said that the declaration went a very long way indeed. It was a definite promise that the Government was prepared to hand over to Indians the government of their own country. They were anxious to do so, and would do so at the earliest possible moment. "It is not the practice of this Government to go back on its pledged word." the Duke of Devonshire added. " Quite apart from any over-riding consideration, it is its earnest desire to see In<?ia take her place at the earliest possible moment, not only as a full member, but as a contented, united and prosperous member of the Commonwealth. The Indians have to a large extent the government of India in their own hands. Internal Discord "We are up against problems of the most formidable magnitude. We have invited Indian leaders of all shades of opinion to get together and frame some scheme by which an Indian Government or Governments might be formed, to which we can transfer our powers, and we can give an assurance that this transference will take place at the earliest possible moment after the war. So far the Indian leaders have not found it possible to reach any agreement." "The Government should unequivocally say when it intends to give India self-government, and take steps to implement that right," said Lord Faringdon, opening the . debate. He condemned the British attitude of complacency towards India, which was pictured as a land of vast wealth. That was wrong. India was the poorest country in the world. Appalling poverty was the outstanding feature of Indian life, and it was a reflection on Britain that after 100 years of British rule the Indians' living standards had not risen. The average Indian income was £6 3s a year, compared with £2O in Japan, whose industrial competition was often attacked on the ground that the workers were paid abominable wages. Mr Churchill's announcement that the Atlantic Charter did not apply to India was only another disastrous British move in dealing with the Indian problem. Britain's Responsibility

The Marquess of Crewe said it would be folly to give India self-government without some substantial hope that civil war would not immediately result. The most useful move at present would be to extend the powers of the Provincial Governments and to limit the function of the Central Government as far as possible. Lord Rankeillour said that fundamental questions, such as the rights of independent States and minorities, must be settled before either dominion status or self-government could be granted. Britain's responsibility was to'the vast masses, not to the passing demands of organised political bodies.