Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
india NAT|ONAL|STS
TOASKU.S S. ACTION
Campaign to Be Conducted
Here for Recognition of
BeIIigerent Rights.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.


Washington is about to become the
scene Of a drive for American recosni-
ton of Indian independence. The cru
sade will be launched by the india
National Congress Of America" whose
chairman is Sailenda Nath Chose, and
which maintains headquarters in New
York
The immediate purpose of the cam
paign to be waged at Washington on
behalf Of the movement now In violent
progress in India is to secure "belliger-
ency rights" for Indian insurgents from
the United States.
This particular project appears to
aim at facilitating the return to India
of Hindus, Moslems and other support
ers Of Mahatma Ghandi. who desire to
rally to his fighting support in their
native land.
Hope for Recognition.
The ultimate purpose of the Indian
drive here is to bring about the recog-
milton Of Indian independence by the
United States Government. This would
be sought at the hands of Congress and
eventually from the President, under .
resolution introduced during the pres
ent session by Senator Blaine, Republic
can progressive. of Wisconsin. It reads
as follows:
Whereas the people of India are
spontaneously moving toward the
adoption of government under a
constitutional form with popular APP
proval and seeking national independ-
ence: Therefore be 1t
Resolved, That the Senate Of the
United States. mindful Of the struggle
for independence that gave birth to our
Republic, participate with the people OF
the United States in the deep interest
that they feel for the success Of the
people Of India In their struggle to es-
tablish their liberty and independence.
And be 1t further
Resolved, That the Senate Of the
United States pledges its constitutional
support to the President Of the United
States whenever he may deem 1t prop
er to recognize the sovereignty and the
independence of India, and recommends
early recognition thereof
Chairman's Statement.
In q special statement supplied to this
writer by Sailendra Nath Chose, the
chairman of the India National Con-
gress of America" who will shortly
! arrive In Washington, he says:
Apart from securing belligerency
rights for Indian insurgents from the
United States, and recognition OF our
independence, we are very much In
terested in the recruitment of Ameri-
can citizens in the British auxiliary
forces. We have been given to under
| stand that most Of the 'able-bodied'
American citizens now residing In India
| have been enlisted in the British auxil-
| larry units-that Is to say. virtually con-
scripted into the empires armed forces.
Gables to the American press for
| Indian, as recently as this week, re-
! port that British auxiliary forces re-
cruited from among civilians include
| the equivalent of q troop of light horse
entirely composed Of American citizens
drawn from the business quarter Of the
community. Most of them are EN-
rloyts Of the General Motors (accord-
ing to New York Times correspond
ent), which has large. assembly plant
on the outskirts Of Bombay.
THE object of these volunteers Is In
no sense aggressive, their main pur-
pose being the defense Of the white
community against native violence.
There are also several Americans In
the motor patrol, according to the
same correspondent am certain that
the use Of American citizsns by the
British armed forces in India will be de-
plored by every true American"
Join Crusaders.
The Gandhi leaders in this country
evidently hope to emulate the success
of the Irish, who for so many years In.
cited American public sentiment against
Great Britain. One Of the best known
of former Irish-American leaders In the
United States, Daniel r. Coha1an, q
one-time justice Of the New York State
Supreme Court, has identified himself
with the India National Congress of
America" and spoke at its recent big
mass meeting In New York. A colored
organization, entitled the Universal
Negro Improvement Association" Of
New York, has also pledged the India
Independence crusaders its support.
The Congress Of the United States
has gone on record In the past In favor
Of both Irish and Egyptian independ-
ence. It Is apparently on these prece-
dents that the Indians base their hopes
Of action at Washington favorable to
their own cause. Senator Borah,
chairman Of the foreign relations COM
mittee, says he has lively sympathy with
their independence aspirations.