INDIA ON TIPTOE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1942, Page 4

INDIA ON TIPTOE

FOR BRITISH PREMIER’S STATEMENT REPORTED CABINET DIVISION. MOSLEM PARTITION DEMAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW DELHI, March 7. ' India is on tiptoe for Mr Churchill’s impending statement, which is expected today. It is rumoured in New Delhi that Mr Churchill, Sir Stafford Cripps (Lord Privy Seal) and Sir James Grigg (Secretary for War) have been opposing Mr Eden (Foreign Secretary) and Mr Amery (Secretary for India) who, it is believed, are clinging to the original offer of Dominion status for India after the war. The Moslem League has sent a cablegram to Mr Churchill to the effect that the party is alarmed at the possibility of the British Government announcing constitutional changes for India and requests that no changes be made prejudicial to the Moslem demand for a partition of India.

WIDE CONCESSIONS LIKELY TO BE MADE. BUT WITH DOMINION STATUS POSTPONED. (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. It is understood that the British Government, in its Indian policy, is prepared to make far wider concessions to Indian Nationalist opinion that were contemplated before the Japanese invasion, but it is believed that an influential section is opposed to any substantial transfer of power to Indians. On the other hand, the Congress Party has made it clear that it is unwilling to accept a mere promise of ultimate Dominion status unless specific powers are immediately transferred to a National Council, responsible to an elected Indian legislature. The political correspondent of the “Sunday Times” says it is understood that the War Cabinet has decided that the Government’s policy shall embody a large extension of Indian self-gov-ernment. The pledge of Dominion status will be renewed as a goal, but the framing of the new constitution cannot be undertaken during the stress of war and with the external danger to India so close and menacing.