Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-11
TotaIitarianism Laid
10 6and |! Party BY
Secretary for India
Many Province Ministers
Believed to Hove
Resigned Reluctantly
BY LELAND STOWE.


Resigned Reluctantly
BY LELAND STOWE,
Chicago Daily News Foreisn Correspondent.
LONDON, Nov. lin q state
ment made to American press rep
resentatives last night, Lord Zet-
land, secretary for India, expressed
the hope that means of ending
the Indian crisis might yet be
found, but charged the Working
Committee of the All-India Con-
gress with talking much of democ-
racy but acting upon purely totali-
tartan principles"
Since the followers of Mohandas
K. Gandhi are still demanding q
clear-cut declaration Of British war
aims and accuse the British gov
eminent Of pronouncing India at
war without submitting the de-
cision to a democratic vote Of In
dia's II provincial parliaments, OBJ
servers here fear that the Indian
Nationalists will greet Lord Zet-
lands statement with counter
charges of :totalitarianism.
The acute sensibi]ities aroused by
the British Indian controversy and
deadlock were reflected by the ON
cial summary of the situation
which was issued from the India
office. Equally so by the manner
of its presentation. Lord Zetland's
conference was especially note
worthy because 1t was confined to
American correspondents only,
thereby seeming to recognize the
exceptional interest which the
American public is reported here
to have shown In regard to the
Indian nationalist insistence upon
a British declaration that the In
dians, in supporting the war, would
be defending democracy at home
as well as on the western front.
For American Publication.
The statement made by Lord
Zetiand was described as for pub
lication only by American news
papers and news agencies. It was
at first stipulated that answers to
questions would be flor your own
guidance and use on your own re-
sponsibility." When it was pointed
out that information presented in
this manner would be deprived of
all official authority 1t was agreed
that such material might be attrib-
uted indirectly, without quotations,
to Lord Zetland's Office.
The main points brought out In
this fashion were the following:
l. That it was the British belief
that many Indian ministers, who
resigned from the provincial govern
ments In protest against British
adamance on the war aims issue, had
been reluctant to do so.
2 That the precise votes whereby
these Indian Parliaments decided in
favor Of the resignation of their gov
ernments-reported by the NATIONAL
lists to be overwhelming in their ma
jorities-are still not onicially re-
leased here.
3. That high officials in the India
once in London have professed not
to know to what extent other parties
IN the Indian provincial govern
ments had Joined the All-India Con-
gress party in voting for their min
istries' protest designations.
1t was affirmed, however, that the
Nationalist contention that they
have the majority of Moslems in
India supporting Gandhi,s Congress
party was certainly inexact. On the
other hand. it was admitted freely
that the All-1ndia Congress repre-
sents the largest and best organized
party in India.
Completely Of Task Stressed.
Lord Zetland's quotable statement
stressed the completely of the Brit
ish task in India. reviewed Britain's
offer provided that the Indian Ma
tional Congress and the All-India
Moslem League can compose their
differences, to bring the leaders of
the great political parties in India
into the central government as an
ad hoe measure during the period
Of the war" At the end of the war
Britain would willingly consult with
various parties, interests and princes
in India toward a cooperative ef-
fort to frame such notifications
Of the constitution as may seem de-
sirable."
In regard to Britain's obligations
the statement adds: I'VE are pledged
under our treaties and engagements
with the princes to afford them pro-
lection against aggression from
without and rebellion from within.
We cannot treat these pledges as
scraps of paper and bring them to
an end unilaterally, to meet our own
convenience or that of any one else.
It is indeed against bad faith of that
kind that we have taken up arms
in Europe"
The statement enumerates the
complications provided by the exist
ence Of large minorities in British
India. It says that there are 60,0OO,-
900 of the depressed classes led by
DR.. Ambedkar and also 10000 900
Moslems. This problem cannot be
solved by ignoring its existence and
IF We have not yet succeeded in Sc
curing agreement between them, we