ENDANGERED
INDIA BY THE
N
0
tion
was 80
so informed the Viceroy.
Brave soldiers
invasion by an
so
JAPANESE
a
and the usual I Asiatic Power, by the Cabinet,
reacted so strongly and at The stresses latent in Indian voluminous correspondence such length that he never raised politics grow.
passed between the India Office it verbally again.. Later at the
end of and the Viceroy. OX-
February, 1042, he in- structed Avereli Harriman ta sound me on the possibilties of a settlement between the British and the Indian Government political leaders.
The President also sent mo ut views time his private
it was
the
My own idea was
defending India from the great portion of for the world popula- miseries of invasion which many other lands endured. effec-
small We finished the war, from all Although only tively protected the worst severities of which tremist section in Bengal, led
I sent him. à personal tele by men such as Subhas Bose, from the horrors and perils they were spared, owing them
and gram which expresses the view debt almost as large as that on were directly subversive of the World War as were which we defaulted to the hoped for an Axis victory, the I had formed about Indian sell
of art.culate govemment to which I was of Hindustan. United States after the previous powerful body the peoples of
It was felt which
supported course, committed. They were carried through struggle. I declared that these opinion
for questions must remain open Gandhi ardently believed that by almost all my colleagues that the
of Dominion an offer the
status struggle on
revision and that we reserved Endia should remain passive and shoulders of
after the war must be made in our small the right to set off against this neutral in the world conflict.
Japanese
advanodd the most impressive manner to Island. British Government so-called debt a counter-claim officials in India were wont for the defence of India, and I this defeatism spread. If India, the peoples of India.
could some Prime Minister to Viceroy of to consider it a point of
how theated
off British connec
India. honour to champion the
tions, perhaps there would be
18 Feb., 42. no mot ve for a Japanese inva-
to ask the particular interests of In-
sion. The peril to India might dia against those of Great
But all this is only the back-possibly only consist in her link Britain whenever a diver- ground upon which the glorious with the British Empire.
snapped Unk could heroism and martial qualities of this occurred. Arrange- gence ments made when the war the Middho liberated Abyssinta, force, the argument ran.
Indian troops who fought in surely India could adopt
Enst. who defended position of Eire. So, not without was expected to be fought Egypt, who out in Europe were invoked who played grand part in to charge us for goods and with their British comrades, ex- Italy, and who, side by alde services needed entirely pelled the Japanese from
The attitude of the Congress Burma, stand forth in brill ant for the defence of India.
with worsened
the light. The loyalty of the Indian Party Army to the
Japanese menace. This became King-Emperor.
in February, the proud fidelity to their very clear when
Chlong Generalissimo treaties of the Indian Princes, 1942.
of Kai-shek and his wife visited the unsurpassed bravery
and
The object of their Indian
officers, India. soldiers
Indian was to
Contracts were fixed in India at extravagant rates, and debis incurred in inflated rupees were converted into so-called "sterl- ing balances" rate of exchange.
the
It
the
India Hindus, Sikhs, Untcuchable, &c. - to give us their best and leading
Mosiems,
this
about India.
Great confusion
President Roosevelt to Former
Naval Person.
11 March, 42.
different communities of I have given much thought to the 'problem of India, and I am grateful that you have kept me in touch with it. As you can well
I havo in making
Congress Party Part Eight of
Hindu, shine journey
inion against and
at the pro-war both Moslem and
Thus enor- for ever in the annals of war.
Ind'a
ances"in other words, British debts to India were piled up. Without sufficient scrutiny or account we were being charged rearly a million pounds a day
op.
Winston Chur-
chill's fourth book of Second War World to
memoirs, 'The Hinge of Fate'
of
the
mous so-called "sterling bal- The British Government in emphasise the importance for busied self in raising Asia as a whole, and for India
in particular, an enormous Indian Army. The and China
The Indian two great Indian political par- Japanese defeat. ties, the Congress and the party lenders used the occasion Moslem League, were either to bring pressure upon
Government through actively hostile or gave no help. British Nevertheless, upwards of 22 the Generalissimo to yield to million Indians volunteered to the demands of Congress. serve in the forces and by 1942 an Indian Army of one million was in being, and volunteers were coming in at the monthly Although this "ate of 50,000.
olicy of a swellen Indian Army was mistaken in relation to the world conflict, the response of 're Indian people. no less than the conduct of their soldiers. makes a glorious final page in 'he story of our Indian Empire. We think here in the Cabinet tuent Assembly for which each that your suggested visit to Mr Gandhi at Wardha might
Mohammed All Jinnah, hoad of the Maslom League. A big voico. in Indian affairs during the
War.
Invasion threat
The atmosphere in India de.. teriorated in a disturbing man- ner with the westward advance of Japan into Asia. The news of Pearl Harbour was a staggering blow. Our prestige suffered with the
of Hongkong. The loss security of the Indian sub-con- tinent was now directly endan- gered. The Japanere Navy was. it seemed, free to enter, almost unchallenged, the Bay of Bengal, India was threatened for the first time under British rule with large-scale foreign
I dreamed of a duke
By William
Barkley
The War Cabinet could not agree to the head of a foreign State Intervening as a kind of arbiter between impartial representatives of the King- Gandhi and Messrs. Emperor and Nehru. I therefore wrote to the Generalissimo.
12 Feb., 42.
men for such a. body as has bren outlined. However, the
bas's electoral
proposed. which was the best we could think of here, may have the effect of throwing the whole Council into the hands of the Congress caucus. This is far from my wish.
This conception of a Consti- great community and
race
fell
subject
Ο
I much diffidence
ons, and it is n any which of course all of you good people know far more about than I do. I have tried to
problem approach the the from
of views history and with a a hope that
"of the injection thought to bo used in India might be of assistance to you. That is why I go back to the inception of the Government of the United States.
a
now
During the Revolution, from 17776 to 1783, the British Colonies set themselves up as 18 States, each one under different form of government,
1
although each one assumed individual sovereignty. While the war lasted there WO great confusion botween these sovereignties, and separate the only two connecting Continental were the CAS (a body of ill-de powers and large n- effelencies), and, second, the Continental Army, which was rather badly maintained by The 13 States.
links
Federal power
impede the destro we have for would pick 'ts foremost leaders in 1783, at the end of the war
I should have was the method followed, at this time and later.
It was to the war
unintent
nucu
com-
rally'ng all India effort against Japan. It well have the
of emphasising
differences at a
when
unity
It would have avoided dealing only with party politicians.
Reacted strongly
The United States had shown
direct interest :
an increasingly
Indian affairs as the Japanese advance Into Arta spread west-
The wards.
concern of the Americans with the strategy of
to and I venture ho that Your Excellency will be so very kind as not matter contrary to press the to the wishes of the Viceroy at tha
I look King-Emperor. forward most hopefully the increasing co-operation of the British, Indian and other world war was bringing them
Into touch with political issue forces with the Imperial
which they had strong vallant Chinese armies, who on
the opinions and little have so long, withstood
experience Before Pearl Harbour Lunt of Japanese aggression.
regarded as a lamentable example of British Imperialism, the Generalis- In the event simo deferred to my wishes, but as an exclusive British res
that the and, helped by the tact of the ponsibility. Now Viceroy, the ill-timed
advancing to- Visit Japanese were
the United passed off without doing any words its frontiers
States Government began to barm.
express views and offer counsel on Indian affairs.
Rising Discords
had
от
clear that the new responsibilities of the 13 sovereigntica could not be welded into a Federal Union because the experiment was atll in the making and any effort to
arriv
at a fral
to
ught would have come
1200
Therefore, the la Lovereignties joined in
the Articles of Confederation, an obvious stopgap Government, to remain in effect only until such time as experience and trial
bring and error could about a permanent union. The 13 sovereignties, from 1783 to 1789, proved, through lack of federal power that they would
Into soon fly apart separate nations. In 1787 Constitutional Convention was held with only 20 to 25 or 30 active participants, represen ang all ting of the States. They
as a not
Parliament, met,
group sincere patriots, with the sole objective of
bu
as a Amall
-Federal
Governmshing
а
Mohandas Kharamchand Gandhi Tho Mahatma- the Influenco behind Congress. Spent war
yours in goof.
headed by a small represen- tative group, covering differ-
ont
cartes, occupations, re- ligions and geographies this group to be recognised as a temporary Dominion Govern- ment. It would, of course, represent existing Govern- of the British mento vinces, and would also repre sent the Council of Princes, out my principal thought is that it would be charged with body to consider Eetting up
Pro-
a more permanent Govern- ment for the whole country -th's consideration to be extended over a period of five or six years, or at least until a year after the end of the
war.
Peace or chaos
new
I suppose that this central tem- porary governing group, speaking for
tho Domieten, would have certain executive, and administrative powers over public services, such as finances, railways, telegraphs and other
things which we call public services.
some Perhaps the analogy of
such method to the travalls United and problems of the
to 1769 States from 1783 might give a new slant in Indin Itself, and it might cause the people there forget hard feelings, come more loyal British Empire and to stress
the
to bew to the
danger of Japanese domination, together with the advantage of peaceful evolu- tion as against chaotic revolu- tion.
High interest
Such a move is strictly in line with the world changes of the past half-century and with the democratic processes of
all who are fighting Nazism. I hope that whatever you do the move will be made from London and that there should in India that be no criticism
It
the
is being made grudgingly or by compulsion. love of Heaven don't bring I do me into this, though
15, want to be of help. It strictly speaking, none of my business, except in so far as it is a part and parcel of the successful fight that you and I are making.
This document is of high a interest because it illustrates The the dificulties of comparing discus.ion was recorded, but situations in various centuries the meetings were not held and scenes where almost before ar Dudience.
The material fact is totally de present constitution of the and the dangers of trying to United States resulted, and ly any superficial soon received the assent of blances which may be noticed
to the conduct of war. two-thirds of the States.
In countries where there is On Feb. 15 Singapore surren- only one race broad and lofty. dered. Indian politics and the views are taken of the colour Press echoed the rising discorda question. Similarly, States which
colonies WHY WAS St Stephen's Chapel "Did you her Mr Clement between the Hindu and Moslem have no overseas
suddenly, in 1547, given to Davies' say "last" week," I communities, In the hope of possessions are capable of rising the Hour of Commons as asked him, "that Church House creating some common front, to moods of great elevation and our MP permanent home? did not seem the place for us'7" proposals had been put forward detachment about the affairs of
"No comment," said the Pro- by certain Til then they never had a
the Congress those who have.
ent had first dix- leaders for the recognition ot ZINC.
Reformation tector abruptly.
The President The
Then h's lips turned up to India's sovereign status and for cussed the Indian problem with It is merely a thought of mine was in full swing,
tep-past ten in a smile, and to the formation of an all-Indian me, on the usual American
Government. National
visit to inaghod outright.
These lines, during my Issues were carefully conaldered Washington In December, 1041.
THE
were
MONASTERIES being broken up, the abbeys sold up, the ohurchce looted
'My best bet'
of their Puplah images, Dr Maurion Kastingu —fn a 4T'S this man Aneurin Bc-
IT'S book Jas published-be-
van," satd the duke. Iloves that the reformist That's my best bet now. Not Protector, Lho Duke of in 398 years of wandering and Gombrick, pul, the M.P.a brooding have I entertained heard such language from any Minister of the Crown. He says that half glish people are vermin. he says that you naws- papermen work for the world's
in St. Stephen's Chapel in such hopes, Never have
order to depoorate it.
DREAMED I met the the
Somerset!
I Duke
of
Bending, down I said to most prostituted Press. Isn't it him: "You look mighty perfectly splendid?
pleased with things.”
undor-
"It would make me laugh my bloomin' head of tunately it had not already been
́I did not bond because I am particularly tall, but because the severed.
chiko had his head out off on, "But Willam," the Protector "Tower Hill in 1552. cod was proceeded, "don't you take it
cariying it in his bands.
from him. Give as good N you get. Give offence to
Hold my: hood a moment, nobody but take it from none. William,”-sald ħla grace, "while I rub my knedle for glee." And Beware of entering in a quarel there by abood rubling him but, being in, bear it that the hands for glee while his head oppad may beware of thee." mo', duke," I said,
"I used to get
around the
chuckled like hilly-oh in mine. That's not original.”
"What you laughing at?" I dornedad. It' Д serious Globe Theatre, too," he replied. business, desecration.”
"It's Shakespeare, and I hope none the worse får that.”
"But I am so happy at last," bevarejoined. “It fins boon a -"long, kod: emmpaign, this of
mine,
Dr. Maurico Hastings euggests, when I
Commons into St Stephen's
At last
:
WAS most uniappy to hear
turned the this. "Ancuria's a very Chapel I thought I would knock nice fellow really," I pleaded,
the holiness out of B....
and very fond of children. Anyhow, in your own experience
Disappointed of Old England, as you have
said, if he doca go bad come
Out,"
"BUT again and again I was docent MP. will cancel Bevan
disappointed For a long
time I had great hopes of The head in my hands shoots Cromwell. But the word Pof Matif, violently.) 2:
God was always on his lips."" "No," rald" the Duke of (*2-XXe sighed.
Somerset, "At last can lay
was encouraged for a time down my head on rest my ohn Wiles; But as mire noul in peace. The place #come thoroughly
as to dig hóa, bost with free to
(banking and biasphemy alongderouterted?!
Ourde some Chatelian squila;, liko
fawibertyres oe Widtbroad who *in /?Parliament Réune?
by the pond bonerated the (Architectural Press, 128, 5d.),...
of
to suggest the setting up of what might be called a tem- porary Government in Indio,
resem.
World Copyright razorved. Repro- duc-ion, eten partially, in any language, strictly prohibited.
"The motion is that we sheep and wolves promise never To affack, one another, and to show we mean if we sheep will unconditionally stop wearing these dangerous bombs which might go off if anyone tried to bile us"
湯麵
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