CHANGES IN INDIA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 52, 17 March 1937, Page 5

CHANGES IN INDIA

-Press Assn.— CopyrighU

Will Congressmen Accept Office? VARYING POLICIES

(By Telsgtaph-

(RSCGiVfiU j o.4D NEW DELHI, March 16. While Lora Linlithgow was mak-» ing a speech a/- a dinner and declar* ing that "faith and courage were need-* ed in order to seTve the Hghest ends of the people," Congressmen^ throughout India were meeting to decide whether to accept office in Provincial Legislatures. Mahatma Gbandi, though he had no official status, attended the working committee's preliminary discussion. It is everywhere recognised that his voice will determine the decision. The opinion is that acceptance may, be substantiated, but it is generally held that stultifying conditions will bs attached. The opinions of the delegates fall into three categories — (1) Opposition to acceptance owing to th© view that it would mean the temporary abandonment of the extremist policy; (2)1 acceptance as a means of eombating th© constitution if necessary by deadlocks; (3) that the constitution, though far short of the party 's demand, should b© worked for the benefit of the people until a breakdown is forced. The party is not ready at present to conduct a comprehensive anti-constitutional cam-» paign likely to influence the decision. Lord Linlithgow, in the course of the above mentioned speech, said it was inevitable that the advent of such profound constitutional ehanges would be accomplished by some degree of stress and difficulty but he was confident that adjustments will be made and that opportunities for useful and honourahle service will be very great.