INDIA’S PROBLEMS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 118, 17 April 1940, Page 5

INDIA’S PROBLEMS

INDEPENDENCE SOUGHT. VISITOR’S OBSERVATIONS. Into seven and a-half years Dr. Bramweli Cook, chief medical officer of the Emery Hospital conducted by the Salvation Army at Anand, in the Bombay Presidency, India, who is at present on a visit to Fcilding, has crowded many responsibilities. Not only does he minister to the sick, but he also attends to the spiritual welfare of the people. His activities cover a very wide area and although kept busy with medical work ho is able to devote a good deal of time to the study oi the problems which confront India today. Dr. Cook, in an interview with the “Evening Standard,” said that India wanted complete independence, and there was a tremendous agitation in that direction. Ho added that the people would not be satisfied with the granting of the suggestion of Dominion status with military control for 30 years. The argument had been advanced that military control as at present constituted cost the country £34,000,000 a year for the maintenance of GO.OOO British and 150,000 Indian soldiers, and that part of this amount could be spent on education and on the general uplift of the people. Britain, however, felt that danger lay in the exposure of India to aggression. Britain could not grant complete independence to India at jiresent, hut was willing to give her stronger representation in the Government of flic country, and in Mahatma Gandhi, who had almost god-like power, Britain had a good friend. He was a moderate and urged the people to negotiate for rather than demand independence and self government. India to-day was clamouring for independent rule, and the Indians could not forget they were a conquered race, said Dr. Cook. They also could not forget that long before Britain had emerged from the Druid ersi India had a profound civilisation —literature, philosophy and culture. Of course, as seemed to Ixi the case in every country, there were those extremists who screamed about British tyranny, exploitation and Imperialistic despotism That attitude did not represent the true spirit of India to-day. GANDHI’S INFLUENCE. Gandhi was the soul of India, said Dr. Cook. His photograph was hung in almost every home, and wherever he went thousands thronged round acclaiming him. He travelled thirdclass, spurned all luxuries, lived an ascetic life, fasted and observed silence every Friday. He was the brains behind the Congress Tarty, winch controlled seven of the eleven Ministries of India. He framed ail Congress policy, drew up its programme and prepared all official statements. “We of the West cannot understand Gandhi,” added the visitor. “We ridi-cule-his fasts, but to him fasting is a potent weapon. Jt cannot he used by everyone. Mere physical capacity to use it is no qualification for it. ’ Dr. Cook said that Indian princes were whole-heartedlv in support of the British Empire, because their authority was maintained by the British Government. The unrest was almost ontirely confined to British India arid did not affect the States. I “I firmly believe that Britain is ready to accede to India’s wishes, but first of all she demands guarantees, said Dr. Cook. “Britain is in the position of a trustee to a ward. If the ward is of age and competent to manage his own a flairs the trustee’s work is finished. But the trustee must be satisfied, before lie surrenders absolute control, that his ward is mature and competent to manage his own affairs. Therein lies the crux of the situation. India considers herself now fit for selfgovernment. Britain is hesitant and not so sure. She is not satisfied on two points —tlie defence of tlio country against external aggression and the maintenance of internal peace in the face of communal differences.”