INDIA’S PART IN WAR

Southland Times, Issue 24685, 5 March 1942, Page 5

INDIA’S PART IN WAR

Much Help Already Given (8.0.W.) RUGBY, March 3. The Under-Secretary for India, the Duke of Devonshire, replying in the House of Lords to inquiries about the defence of India and the association of Indians with the country’s war effort, said: “The Government is not unmindful of the gravity of the situation. It is not desirable to anticipate a statement which is expected in the course of a few days from the Prime Minister Ijn reply to a letter addressed to him by 'moderates in India. The Government of India is fully conscious of the fact that the defence of Burma is essential for British security. Every man who could be spared has been sent to Burma. “India has already made very large contributions, indeed, to the campaign in the Middle East,. Iraq, • and Persia, has played a part in the defence of Ceylon and has had many losses in Malaya. India has dene her utmost to sustain and maintain the battle. “China is also advancing and co-oper-ating from the north-east in the very important and vital campaign in Burma.

Arrangements have been in progress by which India will be represented in China, and as India is already represented in Washington the link between India, China and America is made very much closer than it was before.” AMERICAN HELP The United States Under-Secretary of State, Mr Sumner Welles, told the Press, today, that administration officials were urgently considering measures to help in the defence of India and establish there a supply base for the armies fighting in China and for the Pacific areas. At Delhi a military spokesman said that because of the Japanese threat against Rangoon there was supreme need for supplies for China from India by alternative routes. The Burma Road was not closed, but the lower reaches were, perhaps, not working. The section from Lashio was open. General Wavell now had a very good and healthy contact with Marshal Chiang Kai-shek and this was likely to be closer. A Calcutta message says the Hindu Mahasaffas (a political and religious organization) unanimously passed a resolution asking the Government to relax the Arms Act to permit Indians to pursue guerrilla warfare in the event of invasion.