INDIA’S STATUS

Evening Star, Issue 24282, 25 August 1942, Page 3

INDIA’S STATUS

SELF-GOVERNMENT AFTER WAR BRITAIN'S PROMISE REITERATED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. August 23. Although he was emphatic that the formation of a provisional Government in India while the war was in progress was impossible, Sir Stafford Cripps, in an article written for the ‘ New York Times ’ and also published in London, reiterates tho British Government’s promise of self-government for India after the war, and points out that a largo measure of self-government is already enjoyed. British officials now in India, he states, help the Indian civil service to administer the affairs of 389,000,000 people of various races and cultures. British officials and. troops were no more numerous than those required to administer and police the I’anama Canal Zone.

Indians had been steadily taking over government, not only’ the administrative services, but also tho political direction of all India and tho provinces of British India. Since 1937 the franchise in British India had risen from a few millions to 36,000,000, and the powers of tho provincial Governments were comparable with those of an American State or a Canadian province. Eour Indian provinces had native Cabinets and Premiers, and complete control of internal affairs in their hands. It was only because the Congress Party had 'withdrawn from the responsibilities of power that control was not now exercised by Indians in all the pro-

vinces. ■ The Indian share in the Central Legislature, lie added, had steadily increased until the representation was now 11 Indians to four Britons. It was this Government that decided to take action against the Congress Party, and that action, although approved, was not suggested by the British Government. Members of the Viceroy’s Council were drawn from various sections in India—Madhao Aney was a former member of the Congress Working Committee, N. R.. Sarkar was Chief Whip of the Home Rule Party, Sir H. F. Mody has been president of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber, Dr B. R. Ambedkar was the acknowledged leader of the depressed classes, Sir Jogendra Singh was a Sikh landowner, Sir J. P. Srivastava was a business man and industrial chemist, Sir Mahommod Usman lias been Governor of Madras, Sir Syed Sultan Ahmed was AdvocateGeneral for Bihar, and both Sir Firoz Khan Noon, of Punjab, and Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar. of Madras, have been prominent in politics for many years. These men were ardent nationalists and not mere mouthpieces of Britain. They were conducting the government of India according to their convictions of what was in the best interests of the whole country. Two Indians were on the way to take their places in the British War Cabinet and would have a full voice on all questions relating to the conduct of tho war as it affected India.

BURMA-ASSAM BORDER

GUERRILLAS HARASS JAPANESE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 24. The exploits of guerrillas operating from the Burma-Assam border into Jap-anesti-occupied Burma are described by an Army observer in a New Delhi message. A famous tribe called the Nagas is playing a great part in the attacks on Japanese patrols. The Nagas study the habits of the enemy and the features of thd country, and use primitive weapons and strategies. They work so swiftly and silently that an advance section of an enemy column may pass without knowing that the roar has been wiped out. "British patrols are greatly helped by information provided by the guerrillas.

ASSAM WILL CO-OPERATE

IMPORTANT INDIAN PROVINCE (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, August 24. The important Indian province of Assam, which since the end of 1941 has been a “ Governors’ province,” returns to-morrow to responsible government and full co-operation in the United Nations’ war effort. This news was given in a communique issued by the Governor of Assam, which states that Sir Mahomed Saadullah has intimated to the Governor of Assam that he is in a position to form a Ministry which will command the confidence of the Legislature.

With the concurrence of the Gover-nor-General, the Government .of India lias intimated its readiness to agree to this course.

UNDER BATTERY’S NOSE

"H£IL, CHURCHILL" HEARD (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, August 24. “ Hoi I, Churchill.” Hashed in Morse from a small ship which a German battery had challenged off the French coast so astounded the’ Germans who had signalled the ship that the British crew manning the coastal craft were able to slip merrily away, dodging the searchlight beams that sought for it through the faint moonlight that had given the Germans a first glimpse of the audacious visitors. The vessel was* one of the sth Motor Launch Flotilla, which has earned the nickname “ Fighting Fifth ” through its thrust and audacity.

PRODUCTION OF CARGO PLANES

AMBITIOUS AVIATION PROGRAMME PAN FRANCISCO, August 24. Mr Henry J. Kaiser, the west coast shipbuilder, announced to-day that he had “ teamed ” with Mr Howard Hughes, the millionaire aeroplane designer and motion picture producer, to build 500 cargo planes. Alter several days’ conferences the men agreed to carry out on a joint basis “the most ambitious aviation programme the world has ever known.”

Mr Kaiser recently explained to Washington officials his plan for the mass production of cargo planes to defeat the Axis suomarinc menace. He aroused widespread public interest, but encountered some opposition on the ground that the necessary materials wore not available at present.