FRUITLESS TALKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26233, 17 August 1946, Page 7

FRUITLESS TALKS

INDIAN FACTION LEADERS NO NEARER POLITICALLY (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 16. Pandit Nehru confirmed that his 80minute talk with Mr Jinnah last night did not result in an agreement, says Reuter’s Bombay correspondent. Nehru said he and Jinnah had a most friendly talk concerning the formation of an interim Government, but he regretted that it did not bring them politically nearer one another. All elements except the Moslem League were offering to co-operate in forming a provisional Government and it was obvious in the circumstances that the negotiations could not be brought to a standstill because of lack of cooperation from the league. Nehru said the difference between Viscount Wavell’s latest approach and the previous offers was that the Congress had been asked to form a Government and take responsibility for it instead of individuals being chosen by an external authority. He would meet Viscount Wavell to-morrow for further discussions. There were still difficulties to overcome.

Reuter’s correspondent in Bombay says British troops were placed on the alert as a precaution against possible trouble from the Moslem League’s direct action day. but all was quiet up to mid-day. Moslem students held a procession and Moslem shops were closed.

Reuter’s Calcutta correspondent says 100 people were taken to hospital as +he result of an assault during the Moslem direct action dav observance.