Evening star., 1933-10-22
Baldwin Faces Fight
Over Indian Policy
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON, October 21.-When Parlia-
ment reassembles at the beginning Of
next month the government will be in
a stronger position than it has been
in a year past In fact. leaving aside
the world problem created by Ger
Arms Conference. the internal position
Of Great Britain has taken a more de-
cidedly hopeful turn than at any time
in the past five years.
The latest figures on unemployment
show further substantial decreases and
there are now nearly a million more
people employed than was the case a
year ago. The revenue returns for the
first half of the financial year have
exceeded all expectations and If trade
continues to improve as it has done
during the past few months. the next
budget should be the most cheering
financial statement issued since the
great depression set it. Added to all
this. the remarkable evidence of revival
in Australia has given a welcome tonic
to public feeling here.
But. favorable though the outlook is,
there are formidable lions in the past
The most dangerous Is the problem OF
India. The government has commit
Oc0 ltScI4 W Iilc pOllCy O1 CeIlLIdllZcQ
government for India outlined in
the white paper" which has the solid
and enthusiastic support Of the oppo-
sition. both liberal and labor: The
peril is not in front. 1t is behind.
porters. who are overwhelmingly Con-
servative.
The attitude Of the Conservative
party on external policy has ALWAYS
been imperialistic. and though the
prestige Of Premier Baldwin and the
desire to preserve the national char
acter Of the government have won that
somewhat grudging assent Of the ma
jority of the party to the new Indian
policy. there Is large element of re-
sistance within the parliamentary
ranks. The hostility of the Conserva-
tive party Is still more marked In the
country and desperate efforts are be-
ing made by the parliamentary leaders
Of the revolt to mobilize such feeling
in the constituencies that the govern
ment will be compelled to drop the bill.
The leaders in this disruption cam
paign are Lord Lloyd. former gov
ernor of Bengal and Winston Church.
III. Without questioning Mr.. Churchill's
sincerity in the matter. it must be re-
membered that he has a grudge against
government which. though mainly
conservative in character. has excluded
him from Office. He has spent so much
Of his life on the treasury bench and is
so easily the most formidable debater
In Parliament that he may be forgiven
for resenting the fact that he Is left
on the shelf In these critical times.
4 4 + 4
The attempt to get verdict against
the Indian policy at the annual con-
ference Of the Conservative party at
Birmingham failed by 734 votes to 344.
but the abstentions were numerous and
the very cautious terms in which the
resolution supporting the government
was couched indicated how delicate
task Mr.. Baldwin has II he is to pre-
vent q partv landslide behind him. In
the absence of anv catastrophe In
India, think he will succeed The
situation in India is more favorable
than 1t has been in many years. despite
isolated outrages like the assassination
Of Magistrate Burge. The Ghandi
movement has petered out The Indian
Congress IS giving no trouble and there
are even signs that some of the leaders
would welcome an accommodation on
the basis Of the white paper"
WNAt - Tue ultSIuatlve 10 Lnc gov.
ernment's policy? II Mr.. Churchill
and Lord Lloyd succeed in overthrow
ing that policy and smashing the gov
ernment-for It could not survive such
blow-India would be plunged again
into disorder and mutiny and the
leaders Of moderate Hindu opinion
would be laughed out of India for hav-
ing been such fools as to try to CO.
operate with the British government
This is becoming clear to moderate
opinion In the Conservative ranks and
Mr.. Baldwins patient and skillful edu-
cation Of his party Is. I think, winning
the day. One thing is certain He will
fight the battle to q finish and will not
surrender. Either the white paper
policy must be accepted or he win 90
out q Office and the government viii
fan with him.
toopyrisht. 1851 XXI"