SPECIAL BRITISH CABINET MEETING TO DISCUSS VICEROY'S REPORT ON INDIA

Chronicle (Levin), 20 May 1947, Page 5

SPECIAL BRITISH CABINET MEETING TO DISCUSS VICEROY'S REPORT ON INDIA

Press Assn.

By Telegraph

,-Copyright

Received Tuesday, 10.30 a.m. LONDON, May 19. Mr. Attlee will call a special meeting of the British Cabinet during the week for a full discussion 011 Lord Mountbatten's report 011 the Indian political situation. Lord Mountbatten will meet Mr. Attlee and the other Ministers directlyeoncerned this evening. The Evening News' diplomatic correspondent says that Mr. Attlee is determined to adh-ere to the Government's de.n ision to hand over power to sueh "authority or authorities" v as may exist in India in June, 1948. Cabinet's hope that the country will become united by a simple decision to clear out , by June, 1948, has already proved to be dangerously naive. Communal strife and disorder is getting worse.

Twelve were killed and 00 arrested at Lahore in the sixth consecutive day of the communal riots. Women and children are streaming out of the city. British and Indian troops and Gurkhas are patrolling the almost deserted streets. Colleges and schools are closed, factories idle and Government office staifs absent. Four people were shot dead and o fifth stabbed in a communal clash in a s'uburb of Lahore. The police seized firearms and ammunition. British and Indian troops are patrolling the city and suburbs. Viceroy in London The Times' Delhi correspondent says Viscount Mountbatten, in the 48 hours before his departure., met the Congress Party, Mosleml I;eague and Sikh leaders in yapid succession in an endeavour to ! obtain assent to the details of a | plan the broad outlines of which are already before the British } Government. ' j II is believed the Viceroy, in1 large measure, was successful in narrowing the dift'erences bctween the Congress and Moslem League' leaders 011 specific issues arising l'rum the proposed partition of j India, including the partition of the Punjab and Bengal to which} both parties apparently have;

resigned themselves. Two-Hour" Conference A conference has taken plac between Mr. Attlee and Lorc Mountbatten and lasted two hour. A further meeting has beei arranged for tomorrow.