Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1940-04-11
Nehru Article Reviewed
By Nanny Ger st

OF an article on war itten by Jawaharlal Nehru,
leader of the Indian National Congress- appearing in
the current issue of Atlantic Monthly.)
England may be partly democratic at home; to US
In India she appears in imperialist garb only, de-
clares JaWaharlal Nhr leader of the Indian Nation
al Congress in the current issue of the Atlantic
Monthly. The Indian leader pointedly that the
Indian National Congress has not, and will not mod
ify its demand for complete freedom for India.
The article traces with clarity and brevity the
long story of British doubledealing in 1ndias
struggle for liberation. India the Congress leader
says, watches the in Europe closely in view Of
the promises of Indian freedom made by Britain in
exchange for support in the last world war-promi
which were not kept.
mas the prospect of second World War approached
the Indian Congress laid down its policy regard
to such war;" Nehru's article declares. I'VE had
bitter memories of the of l9l4-l9ls and what
followed it. In that India help had been con-
siderable, over 900 being sent to the various
theaters of war;"
the future status of India. What really followed
was intense repression, martial Law in the Punjab
and the famous Amri tsar massacre"
"Out of all this the non-cooperation movement of
Mr. Gandhi was born. That struggle would have
in any case, for time ripe for vital change in
India, and both political and economic problems de-
handed them tnsistently. The and the postwar
experiences brought them to head and how
Indian and had been exp1oi ted for the
ISM"
He traces the development of the Indian situation
before the back-drop of the changing world situa-
tion:
approved cneck agrees
sion and noticed that British policy, in spite of
occasional declarations contrary, was DELHI
erately sabotaging this idea. Munich ter
riole shock, and the so-called nonintervention be-
trayal of Spain was tragedy viii ch affected
deeply..."
"During recent years peoples movement has
arisen in these states, the so-called native
ruled by Indian princes demanding freedom and demo-
cratic rights. This has been crushed to the
paniment Of brutal repression and gangster Methods
which have nothing to learn from Nazi methods. The
British government has given full support to this
repression In the Indian states..."
1.-THE British governments affront
to the people of India who in it the desire to
consolidate the imperialist regime in India and
elsewhere. If this so, the in Europe became
obviously war of rival imperialisms, and India
could be no party to it,"
Nehru then traces the series of typical y-British
maneuvers to play group against to stave off
effective action by the Indian National Congress for
India's freedom. He mentions Britain's sudden
Germ for the communal problem"--a very real prob
lem in Indian life but which has important
relation to the larger question Of Indian indepen
dence. Britain suddenly feigned the role of pro-
tector of the innmerable conflicting interests of
the small communal groups as we'll as that of proteo
tor of the princes.
The Congress Immediately declared that it was
prepared to to any length to protect minority
communal rights long Indian unity, freedom and
democracy did not suffer, demanding merely declar
alton of India's independence and the framing of
constitution by constituent assembly, freely
elected under adult franchise.
The British also attempted to play Hindu off
against Eoslem But the Indian Congress-, he points
out, lays down cardinal principle the protection
of religious minorities, demanding that every
ceivable minority right be included in the consttu
ton: freedom of religion, freedom of conscience,
culture, language, etc.
Mt passes the wit of to devise further safe
guards for minority, but if any further epedients
to confidence in minority to protect its
interests suggest themselves the Congress will glad
" consider them because the Congress is anxious to
settle this problem to the satisfaction of ALL"
Nehru contends that India's problems are still
lie Of cl1 1Nti b1f hat +ho
MS being hindered by reactionary elements In Eng
land and in India"
"The tragedy is that Britain should have
aged, and should continue to encourage, descriptive
and reactionary tendencies in India in order to pre-
her imperial interests. She will preserve
them for they are destined to go..."