INDIAN LEADERS INVITED TO FORM COALITION

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1946, Page 5

INDIAN LEADERS INVITED TO FORM COALITION

Press Assn.

• By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Monday, 11. a.m. LONDON, June 16. The British Cabinet Mission to India and the Viceroy, Lord Wavell, have invited the leaders of the Moslem League ar^l Congress Party and representatives of various minority groups to join a coalition interim Government. This move follows the failure of the Moslem League and Congress Party to agree on the British plans for an interim Government to determine India's constitutional future. A statement issued by the mission and Viceroy says it is urgently necessary that a strong and representative Government be established to conduct heavy and important business. Accordingly Pandit Nehru, of the Congress Party, and Dr. Jinah, President of the Moslem League, and others have been invited to join this Government. The statement says: "The Viceroy has for some time been exploring the possibility of forming a coalition Government drawn from the two major parties, and from certain minorities. Discussions have revealed the difficulties which exist between the two major parties in arriving at an.agreed basis for the formation of such a Government. The Viceroy and Cabinet Mission appreciate these difficulties, and the efforts which the two parties made to meet them. They consider, however, that no useful purpose can be served by further prolonging these discussions. "It is indeed urgently necessary," the statement continued, "that a strong and representative interim Government should be established to conduct the heavy and important business that has to be carried through. If any of the persons invited ai'e unable for personal reasons to accept, the Viceroy will, after consultation, invite some other persons. The Viceroy will arrango for the distribution of portfolios in consultation with the leaders of the two major parties."