BRITISH POLICY ON INDIA ATTACKED

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5279, 16 December 1946, Page 5

BRITISH POLICY ON INDIA ATTACKED

(Press Assn-

CONSTITUTIONAi ISSUE CHURCHILL PRESSES ARMY QUESTIONS

—Rec. 9.30 p.m.)

LONDON, Dec. 14. During the India debate in the House of Commons, Sir John Anderson (Nationalist) said that what Britain had aeeomplished in India was one of the most splendid achievements of the human race. "I had ro idea that a fundamental change in the constitutional structure would b'e made without the authority of Parliament, " he said. "It was a blunder of the first order "to allow party nominees to constitute a responsible instrument on which the Government and Parliament must rely for the discharge of responsibilities which are clearly those of the British ' Parliament." Britain had swept aside administrative safeguards hitherto regarded as vital to minorities and other Indian interests she was pledged to protect, Mr. R. A. Butler (Conservative), said it was a Gilbertian situation when. the Government had made a statement and then had to refer the statement to the judiciary to find out what the Government meant. He asked what the Government intended to do if the Indian Federal Gourt's interpretation was contrary to the Government's interpretation or intention. Mr. Butler deelared that the Constituent Asseinbly was not representative and, therefore, any reports of an Indian Republic must be taken as uot representative of ahsentees from the Assembly. The Congress party had g-ained only 29 per cent. of the votes in the primary provincial elections, but had 27 representatives against two for the Seheduled Caste of Dr. Amhedkar. The poorest class in India had been sold to the Conguess, its long-time oppressor. Defence of Policy The Minister of Defence, Mr. A. V. Alexander, in replying, rejected Mr. Churchill's suggestion that Britain was not applying a national po'licy. He claimed that the policy in India was supported by the British people, as avwhole. "I have yet to learn of any praetical alternative plan which might secure agreement," he said. Mr. Alexander said it fvas most improper for Mr. Churchill to make c-harges and aeeusations while the Chief Justice of India was investigating the outbreaks of disorder. He expressed appreciation of the restraint of most speakers in a debate at sueh a •critical time. He desci'ibed as disastrous Lord Wiinterton's statement that the ru-pture between the Hindus and Moslems was irrevocable. . He said the Government regarded adequate proteetion for minorities as essential. It would take their position into aceount when making the final recommendations t.o Parliament. Churchill Poses Questions "1 ask the responsible leaders of the parties in India to note that the great majority of speakers in this debate desire nothing more than that India should aehieve freedom on a basis of goodwill and eo-operation with all concerned. Replying to Sir John Anderson, Mr. Alexander said the Interim Government involved no constitutional change. He repudiated • as false Mr. Churchill's statement that the Government * had given impulse to 'Indian hatreds and quarrels. The position existing at the end of the war might have produced more serious results but for the Cabinet "Mission. He was deeply shocked to hear Mr. Churchill say that the Goverument's action preceding the formation of the Interim Government had precipitated the series of massacres. ^ Mr. Alexander added that senior British officers in the Indian Army were anxious to hand over their Jiandiwork tyiimpaired to the free India of the future. Seeking Unity Mr. Churchill: Are they to ■ be placed or encouraged to be placed at its disposal to force its will upon great minority? Mr. Alexander: We are seeking a united Government. Therefore, I refuse an opinion now. Mr. Alexander replied that the Government was confining its efforts to persuading- the parties to come together to avoid bloodshed. The Government stood by its interpretation of the position given last week. It could not contemplate forcing on an unwilling section of the community anything they did not want to accept. Mr. Churchill pressed his question on whether the Government reterved its position on the decisions of the Constituent Assembly. Mr. Alexander said he refused to answer hypothetical uestions. He said Britain was labouring to get the Moslem representatives into. the Assembly. Mr. Alexander concluded that the issue was vital to the Indians, the Commonwealth and1 the peace of the world. He begg*ed the Indian leaders tq develop more mutual tolerance. The Moslem leader, Mr. Jinnah, who is now flying back to India, said before "his departure -that the Mosleir League would not participate in the Constituent Assembly unless the Con gress Party accepted the " Britisl Government' s interpretation of th( Cabinet Mission long-term plans, a: set out at last week's talks. Mr. Jin nah is Stopp.ing at Malta and Caire en route and will meet Egyptiai notabilities.