PHASE OF VIOLENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1942, Page 4

PHASE OF VIOLENCE

BELIEVED TO HAVE PASSED IN INDIA

MOSLEM CO-OPERATION WITH CONGRESS.

SOUGHT BY FORMER PREMIER OF MADRAS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright)

(Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 16. Rioting and destruction continue in a number of centres in India, but there is general agreement in responsible quarters, both Indian and British, that the first phase—that of violent disorder—has almost passed. There is every indication that the Government forces are capable of maintaining the law and order they have restored with such vigour.

The president of the Literal Federation, Mr Sapru, today urged the British Government to send a delegation to India to negotiate. “We cannot allow the hooliganism, rightly denounced by Mr Rajagopalachariar, Madras Congress Party leader,” he said. “Things have gone so far that mutual discussions with broad-minded Parliamentarians are ruled out as impossible, either on the ground of prestige or as an evidence of weakness. Overshadowing everything is the danger' from the enemy, who alertly follows events in India from day to day and is carrying on propaganda by radio with intent still further to inflame the situation.”

Messrs Saparu gnd Rajagoplachariar are going to Delhi this week. Mr Sapur is to meet the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, and it is reported that he may mediate between the Government and the Congress Party. Mr Rajagopalachariar has appealed to Mr Jinnah, president of the Moslem League, to cooperate with the Congress Party in forming a Provisional Government. The Working Committee of the Moslem League met today at the home of Mr Jinnah, who expressed disapproval cf the Congress Party’s actions. Mr Jinnah, interviewed, said: “If Britain in attempting to seek peace with the Congress Party, attempted to sacrifice,. Moslems, we should terminate co-operation. We have gone far enough.”

Mr Rajagopalachariar said: “The Moslem League should take the initiative. Mr Jinnah cannot be oblivious to the growing demand among his own people for the immediate enforcement of a practical solution. A Provisional Government can and must be formed which can truly speak on behalf of the whole nation and can preemptorily demand from Britain a transfer of full power, making impossible any false plea or procrastination on behalf of British Imperialism. The Moslem League can take it for granted that the Congress Party agrees to the right of self-determination for federation units, and tha't they may choose to be separate and sovereign, being bound to the rest of India only for defence against foreign aggression’.” An ordnance has been issued in Delhi conferring powers on military officers, from the rank of captain upwards, to protect property even by such forces as may cause death. The ordnance applies to all British India and gives the same power to officers of equal rank in the armies of our Allies. HOLDING ALOOF MR JINNAH’S ADVICE TO MOSLEMS. CONGRESSMEN WARNED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 12.10 p.m.) RUGBY, August 16. The Working Committee of the Moslem League met in camera today, according to an agency message, and discussed for three hours the recent Congress Party decision and the events following it. It was learned that Mr Jinnah addressed the meeting on the lines of the statements already made by him, asking the Moslems to keep aloof from the Congress movement and warning Congressmen not to coerce or cajole Moslems to join in. There is otherwise little fresh news, but there has been some improvement in the situation in Nagpur. Sir Marapant Joshi and other citizens of the Central Provinces have issued a statement condemning lawlessness. The Government of the United Provinces, in a Press communique issued at Lucknow, states that, after a spell of disturbances, towns in the province are settling down again. Quiet prevails at Meerut, Agra, Cawnpore, Allahabad and Lucknow. Mills, are working normally and no incident has been reported. Benares is also returning to normal and Congress committees in the State have been declared unlawful bodies. APPEAL TO JINNAH UNITY TO DEFEAT AXIS. (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 16. . Mr J. J. Singh, president of the India League in America and a former member of the All-India Congress Committee, has cabled' Mr Jinnah, on the occasion of' the meeting of the Moslem League in Bombay: “Your countrymen abroad appeal to you to bring peace and freedom without bloodshed to India and beg you to create Indian unity to defeat the Axis. Then today’s league meeting will go down in history.”