NEW DRAFT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1942, Page 4

NEW DRAFT

CONSIDERED BY CONGRESS COMMITTEE.

LONG ADDRESS BY GANDHI.

(Received' This Day, 9.45 a.m.) BOMBAY, August 5.

Mr Gandhi addressed the Congress Working Committee for ninety minutes this morning, after which the committee considered the world-wide reaction to the resolution. It is understood that the committee discussed a draft resolution, which is in the nature of a restatement of the Congress position as a result of criticisms. The draft still gives Mr Gandhi a definite mandate. It is understood that the new draft resolution meets all reasonable constructive criticisms in India and abroad and emphasises that, once Britain concedes India’s demands for immediate independence, a Provisional Government will wholeheartedly and unreservedly declare on the side of the United Nations, agreeing to meet the Japanese and any other aggressor with armed resistance. FREE INDIA WOULD JOIN WORLD FEDERATION. NEW CONGRESS RESOLUTION. (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) BOMBAY, August 5. The Congress Working Committee adopted a new resolution which emphasises the need for freedom for all the peoples of Asia and adds: “A free India will be willing to join the world federation which must firstly, and for the duration of the war, start with the United Nations.” The resolution envisages a Federal Government for the whole of India, with maximum autonomy for the provinces, and makes a last-minute appeal to Britain and the United Nations to accept the Congress demand, but indicates that if Britain’s attitude should make it necessary for Congress to enforce its “sanction,” Congress would be ready to start a mass struggle under the leadership of Mr Gandhi.

A resolution will be placed before the All-India Congress Committee at the weekend, “in endorsement of the Wardha resolution of July 14 (the “quit India” resolution). A new statement issued in London today makes it clear that the Government will not consider any claim by the Congress Party for an immediate British withdrawal from India. Authoritative circles declared that if the committee endorses a civil disobedience policy, the Government of India will not allow a campaign to be organised. The British statement emphasises that there can be no doubt about the transference of power to India aftei the war, but that there can be no question of an immediate session.