INDIAN SITUATION

Chronicle (Levin), 22 February 1947, Page 5

INDIAN SITUATION

Press Assn.-

Some Observers Fear Chaos Will Result

Bv Telearavh

-Copyright

itiiceived Fridav, 7 p.m. LOXDOX, Feb. 21. Cabinet 's decision 011 India was reached during Ihe last ten days and was tlie direct result oi' tlie developing disagreement betvveen tlie Congress Party and Moslem League about tlie inlerpretation oi." tlie t'abinet Mission plan i'or eonstitution rnaking, says th'e, Australian Associated Press, quoting an j-. jfficial source. Tlie Brllisli Goveniiiieiit, believing tlie parties in India unJikely to agree wliile disagreement liad 110 more serious consequenees tlian tho postponement of iudependence, decided to force. tlie parties inlo a realisatiou or' their responsibilities bv nnnouncing a firm date, after which no appeal tu British authority was possible. Cabinet was also sensitive to tlie contimiing criticisms tliat Britain intended, by some ineans, to maintain a l'ooilioJd in India and was following tlie princlple of divide and raio. Cabinet has now plainly oifered tlie Indians tlie opportnnity to unite and be independent. Cabinet is now avvaiting Tndia's reaetion to tlie White Pape.v and has not yet any lixed plan of procedure between now and June, 191.3. British renuneiation of power in India niay eoine early or late, but it is certain Cabinet is eoniniitteil to tlie production of legislation for Parliament early in 1948 so tliat an Act of Renuii eiation ean be put into ellec't in June. No official quarters will comment toi publication on Lord Wavell' s position, but the Australian Associated Press is authoritatively able to state^ Lord Wavell found himself unable to approve Cabinet 's decision to gamble on being able, by issuing an ultimatum, to force the Indians to realise tliat unity is the only alternative to chaos. The Indian jiarties, as the result of Cabinet 's decision, niay decide to re solve their diil'erences or the Moslems niay take the White Paper's referein-e to provincial governnients as an invitation to press elainis to Pakistnn. Congress, if tlie Aloslenis follow sueh a policv, niay still believe peuce preferable to prinriple and aetpiiesce iu Britain 's handing over power, in tht words of ihe White l'aper, ''in sonie areas to tlie existing pro\im-ial governnients. ' ' But close ohservers of Indian atfairs with recent experience of the clash of opinion in India, suggest that there is a real possibility that both parties will adhere to principles and that Britain will not find ' ' such other way as might seem reasonable," and that chaos will follow the British withdrawal. Lord Wavell, it is believed, did not feel he could adi-inister a policy leaving room for such a possibility. Lord .MountbaUen will go to India eharged with the t.ask of preparing legislation wliieh Paidiainent experts to be asked to subinit to tlie Crown earlv in 1948 at the lalest. Lord Mountbatten's first inoves will depend on the reartions of the Indians to the White .Paper. Indian e.in-les in London iiidieate that the first reaelion is disniav. Hunter 's lobby eorrespondent says, although Britain will not tolerate coereion of tlie niinorities in India, it is now niade clear she will not alknv anv minority to stand forever in the way of tlie niajority. Britain does not intend to leave India in a state of chaos. A ceiilral governnient might be establislied with some provinces outside it governing theinselves. Britain 's responsibility for the clefence of India will not necessarily end in June, 1948. It is considered probable there will be some kind of treaty witliin United Nations security framework. FIRST RBACTIOJNS Received Fridav, 7 p.m. LOXDOX, Feb. 21. The first reaetion of Congress quarters to the White Paper was satisfaction, says Keuler's Xew Delhi corre sfiondent. The White Paper, by seLting a deadline, eijsured that tlie transfor of power would not be halted by any failure of the Constituent Asseniblv. The eorrespondent adds that tlie present indications are that both Congress and the .Moslem League are likely tp remain in the Interim (t'>veriii:ient. Xeither party is likely to express any considered opinion for some timo. The .Moslem League newspaper Dawn said Moslems welconied Cabinet 's decision to transfer power at a specili" date and also the broad outline of the British plan for t ransiVrring power. .Mr. Jinnali, interviewed nt Karaclii, said he could not comment on Cabinet decision until he had given more con sideration to what appeared to be a verv important statement. Tho Associated Press Xew Delhi eorrespondent says a souive close to Mr. Xehru r-laiined Cabinet 's decision as a victory for tlie Congress Party. The eorrespondent adds tluit .Mr. Xehru aecused Lord Wavell of " i nt i iguing. " Lord Monntbat ten and Mr. Xehru becaine close personal friends during Mr Xehru 's visit to Singapore in Mareh. 1 f) 1 6.