Evening star., 1940-12-22
India S Acceptance
OF August 8 Plan
Awaited by Britain
Free, Equal Partnership
In Commonwealth at End
Of War Is Offered
By DREW MIDDLETON,

associated Press War Correspondent.
The British government, pinning
It's faith in the ability OF Indian
leaders to settle differences, is wait
ing patiently for India to adopt pro-
posals made August 8, 1910, for the
future Indian state and for fuller
native participation in the war ef-
fort.
The governments patience, it
might be noted, far exceeds that of
the man in the street, who, living
in constant fear of being blown to
bits, doesn't give fig for India's
freedom. Even labor, which once
brooded over its Indian brethren,
pays little attention to the present
situation
'free and equal partnership" in the
British commonwealth at the end
of the war, but would leave forma-
tion of the Indian state to the In
dians themselves-the unreconciled |
Hindus and Moslems.
The policy of the government |
steers between two extremist views |
on India.
On one hand are reactionaries,
military, political and industrial
leaders, who advocate strong
hand" in India. This would mean
a larger garrison than at present, !
rigid censorship and probably con-
scription of labor for war industries. |
Liberal Britain speaking through
the New Statesman and Nation,
bewails the present state of affairs
and presents four-point plan to
replace the August, 1910, proposals,
which it calls sincere but clumsy"
Release of Thousands Demanded.
This weekly demands the release
of many thousands" imprisoned in
India because the police viewed them
with suspicion or disapproval."
The prisoners, it says, include
Pandit Jawaharalal Nehru, former
president of the Nationalist party,
the All-India Congress, and six
prime ministers of provincial gov
ernments, including another former
head of the Congress, c. r. Raja-
gopalachari, who for a time replaced
Mohandas K. Gandhi as leader of
the Congress party.
The liberal organ admits the pris-
oners challenged authority by de-
livering anti-war speeches" but de-
clares I'VE shall soon have in prison
cells all the men who ruled over
eight of the II provinces of India
and it may be assumed that in
opposing us today they still have
behind them the electorate which
gave them majority three years
ago"
Three other steps of the liberal
weekly's Indian platform" follow:
l. Accept the offer of moderate
leaders, Sir Tel Bahadar Sapru and
M. r. Jayakar, to mediate between
the Hindus and Moslems, admitting
Representatives of the less-advanced
Moslem organizations to balance
Mohammed Ali Jinnah's Moslem
League, which wants a separate
Moslem state, and selecting new rep
resentatives with a fresh viewpoint
from the Congress party.
2. Instruct the Viceroy of India to
reorganize collective responsibility of
Indian members of an enlarged EX-
ecutive Council, making it in effect
a cabinet responsible to the Legis-
lative Assembly.
g. Embody a pledge to grant In
dians the right to determine their
own constitution Immediately after
the war, in parliamentary resolu-
tions. The resolutions should stipu-
late that all Indian creeds are en-
titled to equal rights. but must not
arm the minority with the right of
veto.
Government Seeks Accord.
In the meantime, the weekly holds,
india, through national govern
ment, should enjoy all rights and
dignities of dominion, leaving to
the future the elaboration of con-
stitution.
There are almost as many solu-
tions to the Indian problem offered
in Britain as in India. The gov
ernment. rebuffed by the Indians
failure to agree, nevertheless is la
boring hard for a vital preliminary
agreement between Indian politicos.
L. S. Amery, Secretary for India,
Is convinced "the final word has
not yet been said" on Britain's Of
fer and that there is sufficient
number of people in India endowed
with the spirit of patience, tolerance
and compromise" to create what
both countries desire-a new consti-
tuition for India
1t is evident that Jinnahs plan
for a separate Moslem state now
meets with little favor at the India
Once.
Britain has given India strong
administration and just legal sys-
tenn" Amery said recently. Be
ginnings of unity thus created must
be maintained, for it would be disas-
trous if there were any relapse
toward an India of separate entities
and contending states. The Vice.
roy's offer still is open"
War Board Is Advocated.
Sapru and other moderates con-
tinue to urge reconstruction OF the
Central Indian government on the
understanding its members remain
responsible to the crown throughout
the &ar. They advocate an Indian
in charge of national defense, re-
vival of popular government in the
prov3ices and creation of a separate
war Soard.
The tragedy of the situation, to
the thinking Britons and Indians, is
that a reconciled India would en-
able the War Office to bring fresh
divisions of British and Indian
troops into Africa to fight Italy.
Rajagopalachar has declared that
If Britain grants India national
government" India will make good
to Britain what she lost by the de-
lection of France"
Naval Mission Named
a