ONLY POSSIBLE COURSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1943, Page 3

ONLY POSSIBLE COURSE

TAKEN BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IN DEALING WITH INDIA DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONSGANDHI’S “INCREDIBLE LEVITY.” (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 30. Continuing the debate in the House of Commons on the India situation, Mr C. G. Ammon (Labour) said that the Government, in the midst of a life and death struggle, could not have done other than it had. He thought Mr Churchill should develop the suggestion about a Council of Asia and invite Indian participation in the postwar plans. Mr G. Nichholson (Conservative) pointed out that Indian nationhood had no warmer friend than the Secretary of State (Mr Amery), but Indian politicians seemed to live in a miasma of unreality. He deplored the lack of unity in India and urged the Government to follow a wise policy without regard for criticism. The Dominion Secretary, Mr Attlee, replying, said that the Government of India was faced with a conspiracy and had to act. The terrible thing in the White Paper was not merely the story of acts of violence, but the incredible levity with which a man of Mr Gandhi’s experience contemplated India falling into anarchy. There was no disagreement about the general desire that India should as soon as practicable attain self-government. Britain was pledged to give India democratic government, but majority rule alone did not give democracy. He concluded: “We are still prepared and ready, when any favourable opportunity offers, to work to the best of our ability to help our Indian friends find a solution of their problems.”