Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-10-21
Main Parties in India
Declared Cool 10 ANY
Outside Cancellation
MosIem League Leader
Believes Porties' Views
Too Far Apart
BY A. r. STEELE,

BY A. r. STEELE,
Foreisn Correspondent Of The Star and
Chicaso Daily News.
NEW DELHI, Oct. although
the Hindu majority In India would
unquestionAbly welcome American
or United Nations Cancellation In
the Indian problem, Britain and the
Al-India Moslem League-the other
main parties to the dispute--are cool
and disinterested.
Mohammed Ali Jinnah, lean,
stony president OF the Moslem
League, told me in his, opinion in
tervention from the United Nations
would serve no purpose so long as
the conflicting views of the major
parties remain as far apart as they
are today. He maintained that the
only result would be to initiate the
prestige Of the British raj (rule)
and injure the case of the Indian
minorities.
IF you think you cannot win the
war without the (All-India Nation
all Congress support" Jinnah con-
tinued, then God help you. II the
British persist in their policy Of
placating the Congress party, then
there will be no peace in india"
Jinnah's position, all along, has
been that the British should enlist
Moslem support by granting his de-
mand for Moslem self-determina-
ton after the war and then 20
ahead with the formation, for the
duration Of the war. of truly re-
sponsible Indian national govern
ment embracing all Moslem and
Hindu elements willing to join up.
Could Enlist Cooperation.
Jinnah claims that in this war
the British could enlist the active
cooperation, not only of the vast
majority Of midas 10000, 900 Mos
lens, but also that section of the
Hindu community which wants Al
lied victory, disapproves of civil dis
obedience and yet remains passive
or hostile because of the British
failure to give the Indians genuine
responsibility while the war is on.
To met Jinnah's demand, the Brit
ish would have to go farther than
Sir Stafford Grips proposals. bZ
not so far as the program envisaged
by Mohandas K. Gandhi and his
followers. Gandhi, according to
Jinnah, should be given a full op-
portunity to come in or stay out.
But If he chooses to stay out, no
further effort should be made to
pamper or placate him.
Jinnah's point Of view Is predi-
Gated on the thesis that it Is better
for the British to win wholehearted
cooperation Of part of midas popu-
lation than to have the Coop
Grafton OF practically none Of It.
It also pre-supposes that Gandhi
Is unwilling to compromise, that
he Is not convinced Of ultimate Al
lied victory and that he would pre-
fer to remain in Jail 50 that his
prestige. position and bargaining
power will remain unimpaired should
the Axis win the war. As 1t Is
now, points out Jinnah, Gandhi is
sitting pretty, no matter which side
emerges victorious.
Differ ON Gandhi's Sincerity.
1t must be pointed out here, how
ever, that very few Hindus, and not
all Moslems, share Jinnah's belief
in Gandhi's insincerity. TO most
Indians, Gandhi is a devout nation
alist, though to some Of them, q
misguided one. Moreover, there are
millions of. Indians who think that
II the British would show q capacity
for further compromise. the good Of
fees Of the United States or q COM
bination of United Nations would
not be wasted, even on such a stub
born will as Gandhis. Supporters
OF this view contend that If any
loss Of prestige were involved,
through possible failure, it would
more than be Offset by the moral
advantages gained through having
made one more effort to meet the
Indian demands halfway.
Whatever the method, the desira-
bility-nay, the necessity-of win
ming the enthusiastic cooperation
OF the Indian masses or q large
part Of them for the war effort, is
admitted on all sides. Until this Is
done, high-flown declarations by the
United States will fall on cynical
ears. ..r
The II weeks of nationwide riots
and inter-party negotiations which
followed Gandhi's arrest so far have
brought no real promise of inter-
communal settlement-the one sure
path to solution OF the Indian prob
lem. The best that can be said /,
that there has been slight drift
from the Hindu side toward the
Moslem point of view on the issue
Of differentiation (Pakistan for
the Moslem minority. Despite this
drift. the outlook Is gloomy.