DELEGATION TO INDIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23376, 6 December 1945, Page 5

DELEGATION TO INDIA

Restoring Personal Contacts Parliamentary Personnel By Telegraph— N.z. Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON, December 4. Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary for India) announced in the House of Lords that the Government was arranging for a Parliamentary delegation to go to India under the auspices of the Empire Parliamentary Association to restore personal contacts between members of the British Parliament

and Indian political leaders. “Delegates will be able to convey personally the general wish and desire of the British people that India should speedily attain her full and rightful position as an independent partner State in the British Commonwealth, and Parliament’s desire to do everything within its power to promote the speedy attainment of that objective.” He emphasised that the British Government regarded as a matter of the greatest urgency the establishment of a consitution-making body under which Indians could decide their own future and other proposals embodied in the Viceroy’s plan, the significance of which was not properly appreciated in India.

“During the transition to complete self-government, India is passing through difficult times,” said Lord Pethick-Lawrence. “No greater disservice could be done to the future Indian Government or the cause of Democracy than to permit the foundations of the State to be weakened and the loyalty of —“nts undermined before the hew Government comes into being. The Indian Government cannot divest itself of the responsibility of preserving law and order or of resisting the attempt to resolve the constituional issue by force. Realisation of self-government could only come by the orderly and peaceful transfer of the contml of machinery of the State to a purely Indian authority.” Lord Pethick-Lawrence said the British Government would support the Indian Government in ensuring that the future constitution should not be called into being bv force or threat of force. Mr Herbert Morrison (Leader of the House) made an identical statement in the House of Commons. Replying to Opposition suggestions that it was preferable to send out a delegation under the auspices of the Government, as it had authorised the terms of reference, Mr Morrison said the composition of the delegation would not be affected, as it was proposed that they should select the delegation from all parties, but he would consider representations.