Evening star., 1942-08-16

Military defeat is not the worst dis
Aster that war can bring. Lost territory
may be regained and even long series
of victories, as the Axis rulers know IN
their hearts, does not give any real
assurance of ultimate success.
Reverses in battle are part of the for
tunes of war. Those who have nerved
themselves to defend noble cause will
accept long casualty lists with stoicism.
But any development tending to affect
implicit confidence in the ideals at
stake is very serious matter.
That is why the terrible situation in
India must be recognized frankly as
serious setback for all the United Ma
tions, among which India herself is
numbered. That is why the policies
which have been allowed to create this
situation should be courageously modi-
fed now. The present issue cannot
safely be postponed-as during the last
warrior later indefinite and unce4 lin
solution.
II there are doubts as to the wisdom
OF seizing the Indian nettle boldly they
may be resolved by noting the use
which Axis propagandists are making
OF the present revolutionary uprising.
Unfortunately, this propaganda does not
fall on deaf ears throughout the anxious
and awakening East.
1t is an unhappy coincidence that the
Indian tragedy should have come to
head in what has been designated as
Atlantic Charter week, celebrating the
first anniversary of the famous Church
ill-Roosevelt declaration of August IA,
194l. For by this statement the demo-
cratic leaders gave public pledge, as one
OF the common principles in the ma
tional policies of their respective coun-
tries" that they respect the right of
all peoples to chona~ --> form OF gov
eminent under which they will live; and
they wish to see sovereign rights and
self government restored to those who
have been forcibly deprived of them
Stigma In Part at Our Own Door.
There is no doubt that the All-India
Congress Party has created most diff
cult and irritating situation by its un-
compromising demand for complete and
immediate independence.
But the issue now crystallized has
been foreshadowed at least since the
fortnight Congress admonition of Sep
tember Is, 1899. And since the failure
of the Cripps mission, four months ago,
there has been ample warning of what
is now happening Thus the recalci-
trance of the native leaders is inadequate
excuse for the failure of Anglo -Ameri-
can craftsmanship to resolve the issue
in accordance with the common prin-
ciples" of the Atlantic Charter, before
precipitation Of the present disaster
The stigma of failure lies in part at
our own door because this country, in
assuming joint leadership of the United
Nations, has also assumed heavy respon-
sibility for the political as we'll as the
military conduct of the war. II our mill
tary contribution is only now getting
into full swing, that is the more reason
why effective diplomatic contribution
should have been made during the period
of preparation for fighting. But in pre-
venting the steady development of the
Indian impasse the record indicates that
we have accomplished nothing.
In spite of the propriety and desra-
bility of American intervention in this
issue. we have signally failed to avert
the uprising. At best, it threatens to
leave behind in India further heritage
of sullen hate, further cynicism as to
the reliability of the Four Freedoms In
countries east of Suez.
Our error of omission in India. more
ever. has deeper implications. In every