INDIA’S DESTINY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21574, 9 February 1940, Page 5

INDIA’S DESTINY

Gandhi Thinks People Should Decide United press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright NEW DELHI, February 7. A communique states that after an hour's talk between the Viceroy (Lord Linlithgow) and Mr Jinnah, President of the Moslem League, “in which the conversation ranged over the whole position. Mr Jinnah urged the Importance of safeguarding the Moslem minorities, and Lord Linlithgow stated that the British Government would not overlook the importance of such matters.” Mr Gandhi, in a statement, said that a vital difference between the Viceroy’s offer and the Congress demand lay in the fact that the Viceroy contemplated the final determination of India’s destiny by the British Government, whereas the Congress Party contemplated the contrary and maintained that the people of India should determine their own destiny without outside interference. He added: “I see no prospect of a peaceful and honourable settlement unless this vital difference is obliterated and Britain realises that the time has come when India must be allowed to determine her own constitution and status. Thereafter questions of defence, minorities, princes, and European interests would be automatically dissolved. "I am going to use the failure of the negotiations as a stepping-tone to success, and I am sure the Viceroy will do the same. I shall return to Delhi when the Viceroy wants me.” ANTI-CONGRESS FEELING United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received February 8. 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, February 8. The Delhi correspondent of "The Times” says the Congress Insistence on the acceptance of its case has encouraged collaboration among antiCongress minorities who are planning to despatch a delegation to London. Some princes are similarly inclined while Moslems already' are' preparing a mission. These circles believe that Congress propagandists in London over-emphasised the Congress case to the detriment of the minorities.