RETAINING INDIA'S FRIENDSHIP

Chronicle (Levin), 19 July 1946, Page 5

RETAINING INDIA'S FRIENDSHIP

Press Assn

BRITAIN'S BEST HOPE IN OFFER OF FULL AND UNTRAIMELED FREEDOM

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Friday, 11.20 a.m. LONDON, July 18. Britain's best hope of keeping India's friendship and cooperation was the offer of full and untrammeled freedom and }j(;lp in its attainment as smoothly and quickly as possible. -Mihi Sir Stafford Cripps, in the House of Commons, opening Ihe debate on the Tndia Mission. The British Cabinet Mission, he said, did not go to India with any cut and dried plan, but with an open mind, since the object was not to impose a plan but to help the Indians agree to a plan among themselves. The mission still believed a Coalition Government, with full and popular support, was necessary. Sir Stafford Cripps appealed to both sides to set aside party feelings for India's good, and give the Minorities a fair share in the advisory committee. The mission, he said, had achieved an undoubted change in the attitude to Britain from disillusionment to trust and willingness for co-operation. Mr. Churchill said that for good or ill Britain was committod to the offer made by Sir Stafford Cripps' mission in the spring of 1942, when it was thought that the Japanese might invade and ravage Tndia. "T take the full responsibility for the offer of 1942, but the present Government has gone beyond that offer, offering full independence instead of Dominion status." He was registering his dissent at the change from the original plan.