Evening star., 1939-11-28
India Congress Unit
Asks Britain 10 Honor
Chamberlain Speech
Challenge to War Aims
Address Demands Call
Of Constituent Assembly
Dispstch to The Star.

Special DlSpatch 10 Inc Star.
LONDON, Nov. 28.-Almost simul-
taneously with Prime Minister Ney-
lille Chamberlain war aims speech
promising each European country
the "unfettered right to choose its
own form Of internal government"
the working committee of Mohandas
K Gandhi's powerful All-1ndia
Congress has adopted a resolution
charging the British with denying
self-government in India and de-
manding the convocation of a Con-
stituent Assembly as the "only
democratic method of determining
the constitution of a free country"
The Indian Nationalists' meeting,
which has been in session in ALA
habad for a full week. is one of the
most important in the modern his
tory of India. Its resolution de-
clares that the committee considers
the attempt to avoid declaration
of war aims and India's freedom.
under shelter of irrelevant issues,
as a desire on the part of the Brit
iSh government to maintain i'm
perialist domination in India in al
lance with reactionary elements" :"
1t insists that the All-India Con-
gress "in no event can accept re-
sponsibility for the government, even
for transitional period. without
real power being given to popular
representatives"
Question of Reconciliation.
The Indian Nationalists' historical
decision was taken on the eve of the
Sunday broadcast in which Mr..
Chamberlain placed Britain on rec
ord as championing self-determina-
ton for European peoples after the
present war is won. The question
now appears to be raised as to how
the British government will be able
to reconcile this pronouncement
with refusal or reluctance to grant
dominion status or independence to
India. Also, it seems certain that
the Indian Nationalists will capi-
talize to the limit the Prime Minis
ter's phrase about the "unfettered
right" of European nations to de-
termine their own internal form of
government
The text of the working commit
tees resolution, which is just avail
able here, states that a Constituent
Assembly for India must be elected
on the basis of adult suffrage and
the rights of minorities protected
1t maintains that these minorities
whatever their internal differences,
do not oppose "India's right to inde-
pendence.' 1t states that Congress
support of incorporation with
the British policy and Great Brit
aims war efforts must continue un-
less Britain revises her policy"
Threat of Mass Action.
The Indian Nationalists express
willingness to explore the possibili-
ties of settlement, but upon these
fixed conditions and while non
violently resisting all threats to
India's freedom. 1t is significant
that the resolution concludes by
predicting a campaign to enlist the
Indian masses in a drive for a con-
stituent assembly which is the crux
OF the future program of the con-
gress."
The Manchester Guardian today
publishes an article by Edward
Thompson, English authority just
returned from India, in which he
declares, Civil disobedience is
bound to come with fierce despair
and resentment sustaining it. In
the American Revolution we had a
strong case, but because taxation
without representation is tyranny
history and our after judgment
have condemned us. India has
reached the Lexington stage: If
there is to be a war, let it begin
here!" The break has come over
the right of one nation to commit
another to war without bothering
to consult its wishes and interests" :"
Copyright, 1899, by Chicago Daily News,