Evening star., 1942-03-12
Gdndhi Sees No Siqn
Of Settlement for
Indian Question
British Imperialism
Greatest Crime Against
His Country, He Asserts
B, the Associated Press.

B. the Associated Press.
WARDHA, India, March 12.-
Despite the British governments
announcement Of plans for post
war dominion status for India,
the supreme leader of Hindu Ma
tionalists, Mohandas K. Gandhi,
professed today to see no sign of
settlement for the Indian ques-
ton.
The frail little man who re-
nounced the title of Mahatma
(saintly one) and even formal
leadership Of the All-India Con-
gress Party, said in an interview
that Britain must confess 1.-The
greatest crime against India
which he defined as Imperialism
and undo 1t.
Replying to the question, What
should the British government do
Immediately to settle the Indian
problem?" Gandhi said:
You put a difficult, If not awk-
ward, question. I hold extreme
views about the British connec-
ton.
I'm spite of my love for the Brit
ish, I thing their imperialism has
been the greatest crime against
India. The immediate thing there
fore that the British government
should doAis confess the wrong and
undo 1t.
Step Needed First, He Says.
"Of the undoing there is yet no
sign visible in the Indian sky. Yet
I cannot help thinking that before
Britain can claim moral superiority
she must take the first step.
Then all else follows as day fol-
lows night. will not make i'm
pertinent suggestions by way OF
practical steps. Their (the British)
conviction of the wrong will show
the way"
At Bombay, Sir Kailas Kaksar,
India's best authority on treaties
binding the Indian states (princi-
palities apart from British India,
said that If the Indian princes want
ed ANY place in the India Of tomor-
row they must make terms with the
Popular government that before long
will be established at New Delhi"
He held that London clearly had
demonstrated its intention OF meet
ing with the demand of the people
Of British India for self-govern-
ment."
Future Not Jeopardized.
Asked what he thought the at
titude Of such a Popular government
would be toward the potentates who
WELD a personal rule of varying
power over more than $4,000, 900 sub
1ects. Haksar said:
I'VE have Gandhi's word for it
that the Congress party has no in
tention of interfering with the
princes In the immediate future. I
see no reason why the future of the
princes should be jeopardized pro-
vided they continue the process al
ready begun of improving the lot of
their subjects.
ANY Indian prince who thinks 1t
will be possible for him to have the
same relationship with the crown as
his grandfather had in Queen Vic
toria's day is doing both himself and
Britain a diSservice."
Also at Bombay, Mohammed Ali
Jinnah, president of the All-India
Moslem League, reiterated that the
only solution of the Indian problem
acceptable to his organization would
be 'India's division into separate,
autonomous Hindu and Moslem
states"
Jinnah, leader Of 1ndia's minority
Of 77,000000 Moslems, made no d.
rect reference to the forthcoming
visit Of Sir Stafford Cripps as spe-
cial envoy Of the British war cabinet
to determine weather the cabinets
plan for eventual dominion status
for India will work.
But he asserted that the British
government must not be stampeded
into adopting a settlement which
will prejudice or initiate in any way
against the Moslem demand" for
Indias division.
Disappointment Voiced.
MY views are embodied" he
added. "in the resolutions Of the
Moslem League Working Commit
tee, namely, that the league will