ADVANCE IN INDIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 January 1942, Page 4

ADVANCE IN INDIA

APPEAL TO MR CHURCHILL MADE BY MODERATE LEADERS. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT DESIRED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, Noon). NEW DELHI, January 4. A group of distinguished Indian leaders, headed by Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, cabled Mr Churchill at Washington appealing for “some bold, stroke of far-sighted statesmanship without delay to ensure India’s full co-operation in the war.” The message also asked Mr Churchill to declare now that India will no longer be treated as a dependency to be ruled from Whitehall, and that henceforth her constitutional position and powers will be identical with those of other units of the British Commonwealth. The group of leaders proposed that the question of a permanent constitution should be shelved until after the war and recommended the inauguration of four measures immediately:— (1) The conversion and expan-< sion of the Central Executive Council into a truly national Government, consisting entirely of non-officials from all recognised parties and communities, in charge of all portfolios and responsible only to the Crown. (2) The restoration of popular Government in the Provinces. (3) Recognition of India's right to direct representation on an Imperial War Cabinet if one is established and also in all Allied’war ' councils and the peace conference. (4) Consultation with the National Government on the same footing as Dominion Governments. The appeal concludes: “Nothing less than an inauguration of this policy can resolve the crisis in India. The urgency of immediate action cannot be over-emphasised.” I Copies of the appeal have also been sent to Mr Amery (Secretary of State for India) and to the Viceroy (Lord Linlithgow). It is the first joint appeal to Mr Churchill and is designed to be above Indian party politics. None of the signatories are now active in the National Congress or the Moslem League, but they represent influential though less vocal liberal and moderate circles of Indian opinion.