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those British officers who are invited to do so to continue in service under government in India, they undertake that these will receive the compensation to which they are entitled should they desire at any time after the transfer of power to exercise their right to retire. The amount of such compensation will be determined in accordance with the Tables by the date on which active service ceases and service rendered both before and after June 1948 will be taken into account. Compensation will be payable in addition to such retiring or proportionate pension as is admissible under rules.
10. The sources from which the monies involved will ultimately come must be a matter to be dealt with hereafter but, so far as the individuals affected are concerned, they have the assurance of His. Majesty's Government that they will receive the monies to which they will become entitled.
11. The Government of India accept liability for pension and proportionate pension earned by service under the Secretary of State, whether by civilians or by members of the Defence Services.
12. His Majesty's Government have accordingly authorised the Viceroy to make the announcement* which is published in a White Paper laid to-day. The White Paper also contains Tables* setting out the scales of compensation for the various Services affected.
13. I hope to make a very early announcement regarding compensation for the services in Burma where the position is similar to that in India, and. discussions are now in progress with the Government of Burma as to the terms and scope of the arrangements to be made.
* Printed below.
ANNOUNCEMENT MADE IN NEW Delhi by his EXCELLENCY THE VICEROY ON WEDNESDAY, 30th APRIL, 1947
1. His Majesty's Government have announced their intention that the British Government's authority in India will be finally transferred to Indian hands by June 1948. It is the aim of His Majesty's Government that the transfer of power should be effected in an orderly and regulated manner so that the new authorities may assume their responsibilities in conditions conducive to the best interests of India and the maintenance of good relations with Great Britain. His Majesty's Government are confident that during this period of transition the Services and all those who man them, whether British or Indian, will respond to this call.
2. To those serving under covenant or other form of agreement with the etary of State for India or who hold Commissions from His Majesty The King, the transfer of power will mean the premature termination on that date of a career under the ultimate authority of His Majesty's Government and the British Parliament; and for many there is added to the heavy call of present duty the burden of anxiety for their own future and that of these
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3. The Government of India are naturally and rightly most anxious- and His Majesty's Government share their anxiety-that the administration shall not be weakened by the loss of experienced officers. To this end the Government of India undertake that those members of the Secretary of State's Services who continue to serve under Government in India after the transfer of power shall do so on their present terms as to scales of pay, leave, pensionary rights and safeguards in matters of discipline and that provision to this effect should be made in the Treaty to deal with matters arising out of the transfer of power. The Government of India will now propose to Provincial Governments that they should give similar assurances to members of the Secretary of State's Services who agree to join Provincial Services.
4. The Government of India recognise that some Indian members of the Secretary of State's Services may be genuinely anxious about their prospects under Provincial administrations where they are at present employed and every effort will be made to arrange suitable transfers in such cases.
5. The Government of India agree that compensation should be payable to such Indian officers of these Services as:-
(1) are not invited to continue to serve under government in India
after the transfer of power; or
(2) can satisfy the Governor-General that their actions in the course of duty during their service prior to the transfer of power have damaged their prospects or that the appointments offered to them are such as cannot be regarded as satisfactory in the altered circumstances;
or
(3) can show to the satisfaction of the Governor-General that they have legitimate cause for anxiety about their future in the Province where they are now serving and that no suitable transfer can be arranged.
But the Government of India feel that sentiments of patriotism will naturally impel Indian officers to continue to serve their country and that, in the light of the undertaking that they have given and the consideration that, in fact, Indian members of the Services will have improved prospects, there is no ground, save in these special cases, for the payment of compensation to Indian officers on account of the transfer of power.
6. His Majesty's Government have reviewed the whole position. They have noted the undertaking which the Government of India have given in regard to officers who they desire should continue to serve under Government in India. They recognise the force of the Government of India's arguments and they agree that, to Indian officers, compensation should not be admissible except in the cases which I have just mentioned. Many Indian members of the Secretary of State's Services will, however, become members of Provincial services and in their cases His Majesty's Government's agreement that they need not be compensated is conditional upon the Provincial Governments guaranteeing the existing terms of service. If they are not prepared to do so, His Majesty's Government reserve the right to reconsider the matter.
7. With these reservations I am now authorised by His Majesty's Government to inform members of the Secretary of State's Services that they accept the obligation to see that they are duly compensated for the termination of their careers consequent on the transfer of power. British officers who accept