OVERTURE TO INDIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1942, Page 3

OVERTURE TO INDIA

PROPOSALS BY BRITISH WAR CABINET MISSION FOR SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS. WILL CONFER WITH INDIAN LEADERS. LONDON, March 11. The Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) macle an important. statement on India in the House of Commons today. He announced that the British War Cabinet had agreed unitedly upon conclusions for present and future action and that the Lord Privy Seal, Sir Stafford Cripps, would go to India shortly to discuss with Indian leaders proposals for a just and peaceful solution of outstanding problems. Mr Churchill said he thought it would be unwise to disclose the proposed terms until they had been discussed with the Indian leaders. It was hoped that the proposals would be acceptable not only to the Hindu majority, but to the great Moslem and other minorities in India. During the absence of Sir Stafford Cripps, the duties of Leader of the House of Commons are to be discharged by the Foreign Secretary (Mr Anthony Eden). BRITISH CONCLUSIONS PRESENT AND FUTURE ACTION. MR CHURCHILL’S STATEMENT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) RUGBY, March 11. In the statement in the House of Commonsc in which he announced the visit of Sir Stafford Cripps to India, Mr Churchill said: “The crisis in the affairs of India, arising out of the Japanese advance has made us wish to I’ally all the forces in Indian life and guard their land from the menace of an invader. In August, 1940, a full statement was made about the aims and policy we are pursuing in India. This amounted, in short, to a promise that, as soon as possible after the war, India should attain Dominion status, in full freedom and equality, as in this country and the other Dominions, under a constitution to be framed by Indians, by agreement among themselves, and acceptable to the main elements in Indian national life. This of course would be subject to the fulfilment of our obligations for the protection of minorities, including the depressed classes and all our treaty obligations to the Indian States and the settlement of certain matters arising out of our long association with the fortunes of the Indian sub-continent. In order to clothe these general declarations with precision and to convince all classes, races and creeds in India of our sincere resolve, the War Cabinet agreed unitedly on conclusions for present and future action, which, if accepted by India as a whole, would avoid the alternative dangers —either that the existence of a powerful minority might impose an indefinite veto on the wishes of the majority, or that a majority decision might be taken which would be resisted up to a point of destruction of harmony which would be fatal to the setting up of a new constitution. We thought of setting forth immediately the terms of this attempt, by a constructive contribution, to aid India in the realisation of full self-government. We, however, are apprehensive that to make a public announcement at such a moment as this might do more harm than good. We must first assure ourselves that our scheme will win a reasonable and practical measure of acceptance and thus permit the concentration of all Indian thought and energies upon the defence of the native soil. We should not serve the common cause if we made a declaration which would be rejected by essential elements in the Indian world and which would provoke fierce constitutional and communal disputes at a moment when an enemy is at the gates of India.

“Accordingly,” Mr Churchill continued, “we propose to send a membei of ■the War Cabinet to India to satisfy himself upon the spot, by personal consultation, that the conclusions upon which we have agreed and which we believe to represent a just and final solution will achieve their purpose. The Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House, Sir Stafford Cripps, has volunteered to undertake this task. He carries with him the full confidence of his Majesty’s Government and will strive in their name to procure the necessary measure of assent, not only from the Hindu majority, but also from those great minorities among which the Moslems are most numerous, and on many grounds pre-eminent. Sir Stafford Cripps at the same time will consult with the Viceroy and Commander-in-Chief upon the military situation, bearing always in mind the paramount responsibility of the Government,, by every means in their power, to shield, the peoples of India from the perils which now beset them. We must remember that India has a great part to play in the world struggle for freedom Her helping hand must be extended in loyal comradeship to the valiant Chinese people, who fought alone for so long. We must remember also, that India is one of the bases from which the strongest counterblows must be struck at the advance of tyranny and aggression.. “Sir Stafford Cripps will set out as soon as convenient and suitable arrangements can be made. I am sure he will command in his task the heartfelt good wishes of all parts of the House and that meanwhile no words will be spoken or debates held, here or in India, which would add to the burden he has assumed, or lessen the prospects of a good result. During his absence the duties of Leader of the House will be discharged by Mr Eden.”