Indian Nationals Ban Support of British in War

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 37, 27 February 1937, Page 18

Indian Nationals Ban Support of British in War

BOMBAY, Dec. i 28. — The Indian National Congress voted to-day not to participate in any way in any war in Which the British • Einpire might. become embroiled. Another resolution ealled for a complete boycott of all celebrations in India connected with . the coronation of King George VI, adopted linanimously. Provisions of the| anti- war resolution included complete abstinence from enlistment in the army and subscription to war loans. Nehru urges Opposition # An appeal against "British imperialism" was sounded by Pandit Jawaharial Nehru, president of the . Congress, in an address opening its fif tieth session yesterday, He told an audience of 60,000 in the village of • Faizpur:, "The basic- poliey of this Congress is to combat the Government of India Act and endiit. Eesist; in every way-1 the attempt by , British imperiali§m ,to strengthen its hold on India and.: her. people. Stress a positive demand i'Or a constituent assembly, ©lected .nnder adult suffrage.,z ;

' He/deelared: that the people- must get behind the demand for an assembly empowered to draw. up a ; constitution for government of the nation. Bnthnsiasm for Dnrbar The Congress' vote ,to. boycott ,the coronation did not dampen enthusiasm thronghout India for the expected royal visit and Coronation Durbar, At most, observers believed, mly a few thousand Congress politicians would participate in the boycott, They doubted that George would be greeted with .the hostility which met ..the abdicated King Edward Yin, then Prince of Wales, in several lndian cities in 1921, when xio.ts broke ,.out in Bombay* Speakers at the Congress, meeting in ,its SOthvsession at'lhe. Yillage .of Faizpur, appealed to the 60,000 attending tq fepeat the 1921/ campaign, The resolutiou charged such celebrations were "intended to ; strengthen >:imperialism ahd: add to Great Britain's prestige."