APPEAL TO INDIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22204, 23 February 1942, Page 5

APPEAL TO INDIA

Co-operation In Fight For Freedom (Rec. 9.45 p.m.) CALCUTTA, Feb. 21. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, in a message to India, urged Indians to exert themselves to the utmost in the cause of freedom of mankind. He hoped and believed Britain would as speedily as possible give India real political power. Indians would thus be able further to develop their spiritual and material strength and participate in the war, feeling it was the turning point in their own struggle. . The Indian Government’s notification exempting from duty defence supplies for China is the first evidence of the understanding betwen China and India. The President of the Congress Party (Pandit Nehru), in a speech, declared: “If power is transferred to Indians they are prepared to take the responsibility for India’s defence even now, although they' might not be able to do the things they could have done before” Pandit Nehru regretted the continuF l 6 Br itish Government’s old attitude towards India and reiterated that Indians were not looking for outside help in attaining their independence.

The Working Committee of the Muslim League, under the presidency of Mr M. A. Jinnah, passed a resolution calling attention of Muslims to the growing danger of war in India and calling on them to be ready to face equanimity, courage and fortitude.