1940-12-07 — Page 7

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THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 7, 1940

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

JAPAN AND N.E.I.

Tokyo recently made an obvious start in the direction of building up a

Of

India Thinks Inter-Dependence

Japanese case of grievance WHAT of the Kernel of India? (Europe) are united only by their have been many; but, on the ing to do with a Constituent As-

and

directed into political and other chamels. Groups and parties have sprung up here and there, each with its particular flag and pana-

cca.

1

By Rangee G. Shahani

good than ill.

has wrought more

sembly. They stick by their treaty rights with Britain

What is known in the west-restlessness. And this restlessness whole she against Netherlands Eastern world as this huge and my is being artfully farmed Indies, The start does not sterious country, almost a contin- ent in itself, with its mosale of necessarily mean that it is cults and cultures, races and view-

position now. She needs the aid of India is a self-contained and dis-

However, Britain is in a difficult the forerunner

It is true, all the same, that of the points? Why has Britain not

India to prosecute the war. And tinctive region of the world and granted India Home Rule? · · southward push in the

Congress, having built up a most that its peoples, if they like, are "new order of Greater East

The question is of vital impor Standing apart from the above termined to strike as good a bar- and free existence. The rights of effective political machine, is de-fat full liberty to enjoy a separate tance, not only to students of Im these is the Indian National Con- gain as it can. Before it can help the minorities cannot be trampled Asia." More likely it perial relations, but to everyone gress. This is a remarkable or in the war effort, it demands two upon; yet the minorities have no means continuity of the interested in the story of man-ganisation, patriotic in the true things: India should receive com-right to thwart the will of the policy of trying to estab-out parti-pris. But I must say at fan, but national and all-embrac-stitution should be devised by a concile the various conflicting in- kind. It must be answered with-sense of the word. It is not sectar-plete independence and its Con-majority. The point is, how to re- lish a claim that may be once that to tackle it one must ing. Its leaders are men of talent Constituent Assembly. used in almost any way.

have an understanding of India

terests. beyond cold statistical details.

Agreement, clearly, can only be multiple. It is ridiculous, It must be borne in

Now It Congress represent- I believe, for Congress to make That India is in the ferment of a

ed all elements of Indian Britain the scapecoat. She is only mind that the latest Tokyo great forward movement cannot

opinion whatever its claims, one party among many, be denied.

Britain Western progress is

would be

Indian immediately sweeping in in turbulent waves, and character, but unfortunately, mitted Mr. Amery, British Secre-flerce sunshine or

obliged troubles are mainly self-created. to accept them. So at least ad-In that great land, owing to the follows the appointment The solidarity of things, due to they see things. In running water. tary of State for India, in a de-temper of the people, differences of a Japanese ambassador is an ineluctable fact. India can-

the trend of modern civilisation, For instance, they blame the Bri-bate in the House of Commons. are apt to multiply.

owing to the to Washington who is not stand still. She may not know tish for all the ills India is heir to. But this is far from being the case.

Mahatma Gandhi has called the Congress has supposed to be friendly to to-day where she is going, but

many powerful British Government the United States. The

satanical, opponents. The most formid- and: Pandit Nehru, a So-able of these is the Moslem Lea U.S. State Secretary, Mr.

words strong enough to describe pretend to speak for all the chil cialist a la Leon Blum, has no gue. This body, though it cannot Cordell Hull, turned his

it. I remember him telling me not dren of Islam in India, has a great comment on the appoint-

long ago that he was "out to de- backing and may be said to voice ment of Admiral Nomura

days ago he improved on that by lems. Well, this political party is molish British imperialism." A few the views of the majority of Mos- into a declaration for or-

saying that he would like to see afraid of nothing so much as Con derly procedure and in-.

the British Government "hum-Bress rule. It will not hear of it. bled" in the present war. Hatred ternational justice in the settlement

manoeuvre

she is well on the move,

Yes, India has awakened from question of politics; for politics her age-long slumber. It is not a mean nothing to the masses. Their bread, cheaper bread. only concern is for bread, more

Fortunately, the British possess reasonableness to an eminent de-

India. I have never come across a recently issued by the Viceroy of gree. Proof? The White Paper

finer example in the art of com

promise.

can be blinding. I hold no brief Then, the Princes, master of for Britain, but I cannot help feel-one-third of India and command-India? Three things of supreme

are ing the allegiance of many martial

of interna- Discontent, naturally, is wide-ing that Congress leaders tional problems, which spread. India's 350,000,000 people creating a bogy in order to destroy races, refuse to be swallowed up (a population larger than that of it. The sins of Britain in India' by Congress. They will have noth- automatically include Far Eastern problems.

Mr. Hull's statement amounted to a demand that Japan should support her case on the peace- law-justice basis. He gave

Spanish Fascism's Task

When Nationalist Spain came ing, after the

Now what does the Viceroy offer

ernment admits India's right to importance. First, the British Gov- self-determination. After the war, subject to some sort of under- standing among themselves and subject to some safeguards, In- dians are free to frame their own Constitution, which, as is right and proper, "should originate from Indian conceptions of the social, economic and political structure of Indian life." Here a

fashion of fascist | Nationalist Army during the civil fundamental Congress demand is

of the de-

it did not waste its movements, with morals pointed war. He said:

of

à rather clear indication to power, that the United States time on political windmills. It does not intend to be sought to change the direction bluffed or coerced and the wind itself. also that there would be

It sought to alter the political no resort to bargaining at

nature of the people of Spain. the expense of principle. What he said came close

It planned to turn them at once to a demand that the new from long centuries of medieval

from the weaknesses mocracies.

doesn't

"You simply do not give cold Meanwhile, the law

orders to a Spaniard and expect hesitate to use its strong arm. The to get full results. If I needed a Government has the means under certain task done in those days at the Law of Political Responsibility the front, I would go to a soldier, for reviewing each person's record during the war and under the Re-put my hand on his shoulder, and talk to him more as a comrade.

particularly dangerous position out it be held. I am picking you out there, and our cause requires that

because I know that only you can do the job."

ambassador should briny individualism into a regimente By Saville R. Davis Juan,' I would say, com ade

fascist state. And it was charac-

more than а personal teristically Spanish that the new the sheep from the goats. This public, as a means of sorting out smile.

leadership plunged ahead regard-process of "purification," as it is The move to establish a less of the fact that it confronted called, is a long judicial business and after many months is still case through formal pro- problems far mort formidable continuing. test against "grievances" than Fascist Italy or National So- therefore is almost logical. cialist Germany had faced before In light of other develop- it. ments it looks more like a Neither

Hitler nor Mussolini

"And then he would carry on far better than I could have wish-

ed."

acceded to. Further, India is given what she has always asked for,

equality of status."

ernment promises to

Beyond this, the British Gov- and promote in any way possible "welcome

that may be taken by representa- every sincere and practical step tive Indians themselves to reach a basis of triendly agreement"

So much for the shape of things

thorised to make proposals which, Meanwhile, the Viceroy was au- to come immediately after the war.

though lacking in a certain fine excess, was accepted in the spirit in, which they were made. He in- ious political parties in India to vited representatives of the var- join his Executive Council, not, as Mr. Amery explained recently in Parliament, as mere advisers, but as members with distinct port Council, embracing All-India in folios. Further, a War Advisory

pertinent to quote from the official As for the political police, it is Falangist newspaper "Arriba." An editorial of Sept. 20, commenting on a visit to the German secret

Ramon Serrano Suner, the party's head, who is now Foreign Minis-zealous Falangists to-day are con-terests, was to be formed as soon ter, said:

In a chosen cause, the Spaniard

broad diplomatic manoe- started his career in the wake of police headquarters by Senor is always a born martyr. And the uvre than a bold military devastating civil war. threat. However, it can Neither had to face an entire turn in any direction, can segment of his country fndoc- be made the preliminary trinated against him by a bitterly State is a castle besieged at all

"If Machiavelli said that 'the

of conquest action if de- had three war years to propagate say that it is a caatle

anti-fascist.government, which points, it is no less accurate to

velopments seem to sug- its ideas. gest that.

Neither was confronted in his The United States wel-early years by continental war comes a friendly Japanese frontiers, ner by the fact that the and blockade raging outside the representative in Wash-pressure of that war, might break ington, but major deci- now those frontiers while his movement was still in process of sions are not going to be establishing itself. made by back-patting Neither was seeking to establish The stage has been reach- authority in the face of a peopie ed in Far Eastern affairs with the Spaniard's natural gift

for anarchy.TUME that conference smiles mean less even It can be understood therefore why the path of authority in Spain than they might mean to-day is no path of roses. Spain under more nearly normal wears few flowers in her hair. circumstances. Protests in petty cases to be utilised for the creation of incid-

ents he

room

will not turn the trick!

settlement of issues

*

Firm Hand Used

vinced that just as during the civil as possible. The British Govern

ment hoped that by teaming up war, their political work to-day in this way "new bonds of union makes them individually the and understanding will emerge? standard bearers in a crusade. To among the various communities in defended be sure, the

India, "and thus pave the way same characteristic toward the attainment, by India of firmly and obstinately at every was true of the soldiers in the Re-that free and equal partnership tower, at every embrasure in the wall, at every battlement and publican Army--that is granted to in the British Commonwealth bastion... Germany to-day has be the result of civil war, and and accepted goal of the Imperial which remains the proclaimed stronger, than its external forte. arr internal force as strong, or leaves its problems. But for the Crown and of the British Parlia

When a regime is alert, it does Folange, this conviction gives a not admit that its arms can be in driving force which is not to he any other hands than those of its underestimated, when applied to tions of India and of the thuddled" Considering the internal' condi→ most faithful: to do otherwise the problem would be pure sulalde, -

of government state of the outside world, the through the modern totalitarian Viceroy's offer was a fine exam→ teclmique.

ple of constructive statesmanship. Britain had given to India all that she could reasonably give,

"The secret police of Germany is a perfect work, because its guardians are defending some thing great and just which con- tains conscience within itsell Thus is justice given force and force balanced with justice."

Needless to say, "Arriba" point. cd out that the police in Spain ascendant follow the same model. Their work secks to be thorough. And it is alded by party loyalty, for any one at any time can bring the re-

"

ment:"

Finally-most obvious and most important of the forces bearing on the Falange-there is the inter but, I believe, that of most pollti- Such is not only my impressiort national aspect of the situation, cal parties in India. Congress dis Fascism is to-day in the political missed the Viceroy's proposals as "unacceptable Congress, it is on the continent.of suggested, wants nothing less than Europe. But it has committed its a povisional National Govern cause to the fortunes of war. If complete independence to India. ment as a first stop to according these fortunes favour it, the Fas-But is this not setting the cart be cist international" "will enter will tend to draw all European tipon the character of the new agreed among themselves and political tides its way. If thede Constitution, how can there be a fortunes are adverse, the authori-National Government? tarian system in Spain will have to stand on its own, against a re- ceding Ude,

D

ing" of Spain has been the Na-view. upon which depend the tional Syndicalist Party or Span- future of Asia.

The instrument for this "remak- cord of another person under reperiod of confirmed power, and forg the horse? If Indians are not

fsh Falanxor, to give it the pro- per name, the Falange Espanola Settlement can be rea-Tradicionalista y de las Juntos de

Ofensiva: Nacional-Sindicalista. ched through friendly procedure but fundamen- Every instrument of persuasion has been used, from speeches of tal justice is more to be the Caudillo down, to Inculcate the preferred than friendly Ideas of unity and discipline. Jugglery

Moreover the people have been "given not only slogans but reason

Spaniards Born Martyrs

Tho course of the war may Psychological persuasion, too, is therefore be decisive, and Nation part of the Falonge method. Italist Spain's stake in the war la is perhaps best explained by a coming always to be more clear conversation with an officer in the ly recognised.

To talk of complete indepen dence just now is pure folly, Many so-called free, nations have fallen and others are tottering. What is needed to-day is not independence but inter-dependence. India must, in hier very interests, remain in tha British Commonwealth..