INDIA AND THE CONGRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24422, 7 October 1940, Page 6

INDIA AND THE CONGRESS

While it may have been hoped that the meetings between the Viceroy of India and Mr Gandhi would be productive of some satisfactory result, the peculiar attitude of the Congress towards the British war effort certainly afforded no cause for optimism as to the outcome of these conferences. In the event, it appears that the discussions ended as they began, in an agreement to differ. Nor, so long as Mr Gandhi persists in the anomalous course of advocating pacifism on the one hand, and on the other declaring that there is no desire to impede Great Britain ip waging war on Hitlerism could any less unfavourable result have been expected. Hinduism, as Mr Amery recalled in a recent address, maintains a deep-rooted hatred of violence and cruelty. But it is safe to assert that the majority of representative Hindus, including an influential section of the Congress, is entirely opposed to the aims of Herr Hitler and like aggressors, and realises that only in combating these can the peace and security of the world, including their own country, be assured. The Mohammedans, as represented by the Moslem League, which is the effective political voice of 90 millions of the population of India, have unhesitatingly condemned the Nazi aggressors. The Indian Princes, whose territories cover one-third of the whole area of India, and whose subjects themselves number 90 million people, are whole-hearted in their support of the war against totalitarianism. While Mr Gandhi's view has been adopted officially by the Congress/ it is so transparently illogical that it would be inconceivable that it received the united support of this influential political body, even if there were not evidence to the contrary. The unfortunate aspect of this conflict of aims between the British Govern-

ment and Mr Gandhi is that it is based upon dissensions which have little to do with the war. The offer of the Viceroy six weeks ago to admit representatives of the political parties into his Executive Council has not been accepted by Congress because of dissatisfaction with the terms suggested for a post-war settlement of the status of India by the Indian people themselves. And this dissatisfaction cannot be overcome by the British Government, so long as the principal Indian parties refuse to work in harmony towards the attainment of a common objective. It is simply because co-opera-tion is lacking among the parties that there is no suitable approach to the solution of the problem of India. That the political force of the Congress should be used in an endeavour to embarrass the British Government, when it might more profitably be turned to the search for a solution of factional differences between Hindus, Moslems, and other sections of the Indian community, is regrettable and mischievous, In the circumstances the Viceroy had no alternative but to warn Mr Gandhi in effect that the Congress will not be permitted to interfere with the war effort of India. Fortunately Mr Gandhi’s reply suggests that there will be no serious attempt at such interference. There will, he says, be no civil disobedience, direct or indirect. But the discussions have brought hopes of a settlement by the Indians of their problems, in preparation for the introduction of Dominion status, no nearer fulfilment.