INDIA’S MILLIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1942, Page 4

INDIA’S MILLIONS

ONLY TO BE MOVED BY FREEDOM ACCORDING TO MR NEHRU. CONDITIONS OF EFFECTIVE WAR EFFORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright! (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) BOMBAY, March 6. “Nothing but Indian freedom will make a vital difference or move our millions to effective action,” said Mr Nehru. “Talk of reforms, minor changes and what was to happen after the war would be mere quibbling,” he added. “Provisional national minorities will be able to make proposals when a representative assembly meets to frame India’s constitution. Either there will be agreement or the question will be referred to an international tribunal. Otherwise the problem will be solved by conflict. This risk must be taken. There is no other alternative. A Government must be formed responsible to the Indian people and not to the Viceroy and the British Government.”

Dealing with the Moslem League’s assertion that an independent India would be a Hindu India, Mr Nehru said: “The question of minorities at present does not arise. In any event, reasonable protection would be given them. The princes may at present, be left out of consideration, but Indian freedom ultimately will vitally affect their position. A friendly settlement of the entire problem would make a vast difference and release tremendous forces on the side of freedom and democracy.”