INDIA ACCEPTS BRITISH PLAN

Chronicle (Levin), 4 June 1947, Page 5

INDIA ACCEPTS BRITISH PLAN

Press Assn.-

PARTITION INTO TWO STATES EACH WITH DOMINION STATUS

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Wednesday, 11.50 a.m. LONDON, June 3, The British plan for India, which was announced today $ includes the partition of India into Pakistan (a separate Mqs-* lem state) and Hindustan (a separate Hindu state), and the . offer of Dominion status to each side. ^ The Congress Party, Moslem League and Sikh leaders have indicated their acceptance of the British plan^ The -president of the Moslem League, Dr. Jinnah, announced that the final decision on the Moslem acceptance of the plan could only be taken by the Moslem League e.ouncil, which meets on Friday. The All-India Congress Party committee has been summoned to meet on June 14 and 15*

The British Government proposes to introduce the legislation to transfer power this year on the basis of Dominion status to one or two Indian Governments, according to the decisions taken as a result of the present plan, This proposal does not prejudice the right of the Indian Constituent Assemblies to decide whether or not the part of India over which they have authority will remain within the British Empire. Although the present plan provides for a partition of India, this does not preclude negotiations between the Indian community for a united India. Mr. Attlee Pleased Mr. Attlee, in his statement on India in the House of Ccfmmons today, said: "I'm glad to be able to inform the House that the plan contained in the announcement I am about to make, including an offer of Dominion status to cne or two successor authorities, has been favourably received by all three Indian parties at conferences held by the Viceroy with representatives of the parties in the last two or three days." After paying tribute to the great service that Lord Mountbatten had rendered, Mr. Attlee said that the Government had hoped that it would be possible for the major parties to ca-operate in the working out of the Cabinet Mission's plan for a con&titution acceptable to all. This hope had not been fulfilled. The Government had always desired that power should be transferred in accordanee with the wishes of the Indian people themselves, but in the absence of agreement among the Indian political parties the task of devising a method whereby the Indian peoples.' wishes could be ascertained had fallen on the Government. Framing of Constitution The British Government had no intention of attempting to frame the ultimate constitution for India, continued Mr. Attlee, and nothing in the plan precluded negotiations between the communities for a

United India. The Governmem* did not intend to, interrupt the Constituent Assembly's worK, but was satisfied that the procedure outlined in the plan embodiea the best practicable method of ascertaining the peoples' wishes in certain ' areas on the issue of whether the existing Assembly was to frame the constitution, or whether it should be done in a new and separate Constituent Assembiy consisting of representatives of those areas wnich had decided not to participate in the existing Assembly. Transfer of Power Mr. Attiee said that when this was done it would, be possible to determine the authority to whom power should be transferred. The Government t'ully sympathfsed with the desire of the major political parties that there should oe the earliest possible transfer of power, and it was willing to hand over power to an indian Government or Governments before the scheduled daie — June, 1948. Tnerefore, the Government proposed ro introduce legislation to transfer power this year on a Dominion status basis to one or two successor autnonties, aeoord•irig to the decibions taken as a result of the present plan. Opposition Approves Mr. Cnurchiil, rising after Mr, Attlee had finished, said that the opposition, whiie reserving freedom to discuss details, would not oppose any oio to confer Dominion status on the varioua parts of india. "If hopes are rumlleo. great credit is not only due to. the \Ziceroy, but to the Frime Minister himself, on whose advice the Kmg appomttd nord lvlountbat- , uen." Viceroy's Firm Beiief Lord Mountbauten, broadcasting over the AU-India radio, said that nothing he had seen or heard in the past few weeks had shaken his firm opinion that with a reasonable measure of goodwill between the committees,' a unified India would be the best solomon, oi the proolem.