WIDESPREAD RELIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26479, 5 June 1947, Page 7

WIDESPREAD RELIEF

TENSION LIFTED IN INDIA

Triumph for Compromise

Rec. 8.30 p.m. LONDON, June 4. The New Delhi correspondent of The Times says that the relief which is obvious in New Delhi that the Viceroy’s conference with the Indian leaders did not break down will be echoed throughout India by the common man, who has been living in the yalley of the shadow of death. The leaders theinselves apparently realised that the decisive hour had struck and peace or civil war hung in the balance. Therefore, though the plan satisfied no party completely, none was prepared to accept the responsibility of rejecting it. For once in Indian politics the spirit of compromise prevailed, and the leaders pledged themselves to work for acceptance by their followers. The correspondent adds that the most hopeful feature of the plan, and one on which India and world opinion will fasten, is the grant of dominion status as soon as possible to one or two successor States. It must be emphasised that the plan is in no sense an award which Britain imposed on India. Also it is clear that the plan does not preclude negotiations between the communities for a United India, and this is precisely what the grant of dominion status was calculated to foster. The chances are that once an independent Indian Government or Governments begin functioning the leaders will realise that they are masters of their soul and shake of the inferiority complex resulting from the cramped effects of communal friction. Now that it is clear that Britain concedes India’s eventual right to decide whether to remain in the British Commonwealth, a healthier spirit should pervade Indian public life. It is hoped that the last India Bill will be enacted within three months so that India may enjoy dominion status by the end of August. The next step would probably be the establishment of avo Cabinets, responsible to their respective legislatures. The Governor-General would be the constitutional head of both Governments until they decide by June, 1948, whether or not they wish to remain within the Commonwealth. The correspondent concludes that Indians of all shades of political opinion are united in admiration of Lord Mountbatten’s decisive handling of a tense and complex situation. He has deserved well of Britain and India. - Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent, quoting authoritative London quarters, says that two Governors-General may be necessary *or Hindustan and Pakistan during the interim period, but no decision has yet been made.

Prime Minister Outlines Procedure for • Transfer of Power

LONDON, June 3. The Prime Minister, Mr C. R. Attlee, in his statement on India in the House of Commons, said that the British Government had no intention of attempting to frame an ultimate constitution for India, and nothing in the plan precluded negotiations between the communities for a united India. The Government did not intend to interrupt the Constituent Assembly s work, but was satisfied that , the pro- ; cedure outlined in- the plan embodied the best practicable method of ascertaining the people’s wishes m certain areas on the issue whether the existing Assembly was to frame the constitution, or whether it. should be done in the new separate Constituent Assembly, consisting of representatives of those areas which decided not to participate in the existing Assembly Mr Attlee said when this was done it would be possible to determine the authority to whom power should be transferred The Bengal and Punjab Legislative Assemblies (excluding European members), therefore, would be asked to meet in two parts, one representing the Moslem majority districts and the other the rest of each province. The members of the two parts of each Legislative Assembly, sitting separately, would be empowered to vote whether or not the province should be partitioned.- If a simple majority of either part decided in favour of partition, division would take place and arrangements made accordingly. Mr Attlee said as soon as a decision involving partition had been taken for either province, the Viceroy would establish a boundary commission. The Sind Legislative Assembly (excluding European members). would at a special meeting also decide on the alternatives Whether the constitution was to be framed by the existing Constituent Assembly or by a new Assembly North-West. Frontier In view of the North-West Frontier Province’s geographical situation and other- considerations, it would be ■ necessary to give the province an opportunity to reconsider its position if the whole or any part of the PunjaD decided not to join the existing Constituent Assembly Mr Attlee said in such an event a referendum would be held to decide whether the province’s constitution would be under that now existing or under a new Constituent Assembly. British Baluchistan, ii view of its geographical situation, would be given the choice of a similar alternative. *lf it were decided that Bengal should be partitioned, a referendum would be held in the Sylhet district to determine whether -it would form part of the Assam Province or. be amalgamated with the new province of Bengal The rest of Assam would in any case continue to participate in the existing Constituent Assembly’s proceedings Mr Attlee said that if it were decided that Bengal and the Punjab should be partitioned it would be necessary to hold fresh elections in those provinces, also in Sylhet. If it were decided that this district should form part of East Bengal negotiations woula have to be initiated as soon as possible The administrative conseciuences of any partition agreements With the North-west Frontier tribes would have to be negotiated with the appropriate successor authority. Saying' that the foregoing decisions related only to British India. Mr Attlee added that the Government's policy toward the Indian States contained in the Cabinet's mission s plan remained unchanged To avoid delay, the existing Constituent Assembly and the new Assembly, if formed, would proceed to frame constitutions for the respective territories Legislation This Year

The Government fully sympathised with the desire of the major political parties that there should be the earliest possible transfer of power and it was willing to hand over power to the Indian Government or Governments before the scheduled date—June, 1940 Therefore, the Government proposed to introduce legislation to transfer power this year on a dominion status basis to one or two successor authorities, according to the decision taken as the result of the present plan. , Mr Attlee explained that tms would be without prejudice to the right of the Constituent Assemblies to decide in due course whether or not the part of India over which they had authority would remain within the British Com* monweehh Support from Opposition Mr Churchill, rising after Mr Attlee had finished, said at the moment -t appeared that the Governments pronosals fulfilled the two conditions foreseen at the time by the Cabinet mission— namely, agreement between the

Indian parties and a period of dominion status in which India or any part of it might freely decide whether or not to remain within the British Commonwealth. If that were so, all parties were fully pledged by the offers and declarations which had been made. It was true that agreement could only be achieved on the basis of partition, but. should these parties after a reasonable period of deliberation and responsibility decide to remain within the British Commonwealth.', the theme of India’s unity would be preserved. Mr Churchill added: “We must ask ourselves, even at this early moment, whether after .m.atters have proceeded thus far any better way could be found of saving India from the blood bath which may stand very near. At first sight, and subject to unknown factors working out favourably, it seems that the plan offers India some prospect of escape from one of the most hideous calamities that has ever ravaged her vast expanses.’’ Mr Churchill said the Opposition, while reserving freedom to discuss details. would not oppose any Bill to confer dominion status on various parts of India. “If hopes are fulfilled great credit is due, not only to the Viceroy, but to the Prime Minister himself, on whose advice the King appointed Lord Mountbatten.”