“GRAVE BLUNDER”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20080, 28 October 1939, Page 5

“GRAVE BLUNDER”

INDIAN OPPOSITION SIRS. HOARE’S VIEW VALUE OF CONSULTATION DEBATE IN COMMONS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. Noon. RUGBY, Oct. 27. The House of Commons debate on India revealed that regret was general that the Congress party working committee had rejected the offer contained in the Viceroy’s recent statement in which he announced that the Government would be ready at the end of the war to regard the Federal scheme of 1935 as open to

modification in the light of Indian criticism, and that, meanwhile, to promote the association of India with the prosecution of the war it was proposed to form a consultative body representing the Indian States and chief polities) parties in British India.

For the Opposition, Mr. Wedgewood Benn, in opening the debate, while agreeing that legislation for the amendment of the 1935 Act was not possible during the war, urged that ihat did not preclude preparations for the change being rr.ade.

Sir Samuel Hoars, who was Secretary for India, when the Act was passed, said that the Government wished to close no doers, but rather to explore every possit ility within the ambit of the Government of India Act, but no one could contemplate amending the Act when in the throes of this terrible struggle. Congress Too Hasty The Government, he raid, saw no reason, provided that these difficut;ies were remembered, why this proposal should not be reconsidered. He felt that the Congress leaders had been 100 hasty In their repudiation of the proposal of the consultative committee. It was the definite intention of the Viceroy to take the Indian political leaders Into his confidence on the many problems that arose out o! the conduct of the war. Their advice would carry the greatest possible weight with the India executive. If the great possibilities of the consultations were fully used, they migh' well prove to be the bridge that was needed to ca-ry Indians over the great divide -T constitutional bitterness which at present stood chiefly in the way of constitutional advance. Such wartime meetings would make much easier the constitutional discussions that were bound to take place at the end of the war. The exact method of consultation, he added, was essentially a question to be settled between the Viceroy and the political leaders. The Viceroy proposed without delay to send them invitations to meet him tor discussion. Until those took place, Sir Samuel Hoare claimed that it would be a blunder of the first magnitude for ihe political leaders to take up an irrevocable position