FREE TO ACT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22340, 27 May 1947, Page 5

FREE TO ACT

VICEROY OF INDIA BELIEF TRANSFER OF POWER NEW DELHI CONFERENCE (11 a.m.) LONDON, May 27. British political quarters believe that the Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten will return to India with wide powers to act on his own initiative at a conference with the Indian leaders on June 2, says Reuter’s political correspondent. It is also believed that the Government is much impressed by Lord Mountbatten’s positive approach to the situation. The Daily Telegraph says that the Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, will resume his conversations with the Cabinet Ministers on Tuesday. The talks will continue throughout Wednesday and, if necessary, there will be final consultations on Thursday, the day the Viceroy leaves to return to India. The discussions will centre mainly on the procedure to be suggested to the Indian leaders if, as expected, they decide on partition, the reorganisation of the Indian Army which will be necessary if the Hindu and Moslem leaders cannot agree on a plan for common defence, and also whether—and in which province—there should be plebiscites on inclusion in Hindustan or Pakistan. , British Must Withdraw In New Delhi today, Mr. Gandhi, said: “We cannot think coherently while British power still functions in India. All Britain has to do is to withdraw and leave India, if possible, carrying on in an orderly manner, but ■withdrawal in any case before the promised date. It is not for Britain \o change the map of India.” Mr. Nehru told members of the Congress Party that Britain’s interim Government offer would probably have -been turned down if later developments had been foreseen. “Many problems, such as controls and the communal situation, face us, but bigger ones, such as national independence and responsibility for the future governing of the country must have priority.” The police cordoned off areas of the Sikh holy city of Amritsar after six explosions had occurred. They arrested 50 people, including a man who tried to steal an army armoured vehicle. One civilian was killed during the rioting.