The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-02
BRITAIN OFFERS
 NEW INDIA PLAN
CcontInued from PaKe D

| aaa week" to solve the defense dispute,
 According to well-informed sources Cripps asked Azad whether the congress would accept tho ap- polntment of on Indian to the 1ndi- an defense coordination council un- der the vlceroy, thus meeting in part the congress demand for control of home defenses. The British previ- ously has insisted on directing de- fense.
 Tho British government Is pre- pared to net on the proposal for m Indian defense member if 1t is ac- ceptable, Cripps was said to have told AZad.
 Little Hope For Plan
 There was little hope in congress circles, however, that such Q corl- promise would solve the whole prob- lem, although both sides were obvi- ously attempting to avoid shoulder Ing the responsibility for breaking off negotiations.
 Congress sources said that Cripps willingness to reconsider or rein- terpret the British cabinets plan after consultation with London was encouraging but that the Indians must have control of all portfolios in the viceroys executive council and that the British government must undertake to honor the major lty advice of the council.
 Tn addition, the congress leaders still were much concerned over pro. visions In the British plan which would permit the Moslem minority to remain outside the Central post- war government or to set up e sec- ond dominion as Q last resort If agreement cannot be reached on the new constitution.
 Nehru was undersbeod to be ops posed to any plan which might eventually split India Into two or more states. He has privately poirt- cd out that the proposed Constitu. tional Assembly would be packed" by representatives of the autocratie- ally-ruled Indian states.
 Meanwhile, the immediate prob- lem of defense control seemed for from settlement even on the basis Of CrippS' reported offer.
 Not Enough Power
 The responsibility of the Indian given the portofolio would extend, however, only to such defense prob- lems as recruitment, training and equipment, informants said.
 Indians told of 1t replied at once that they wanted Indian control not only over mobilization and sim. liar problems but disposal Of ap- propriationS for defense and other matters.
 Indian moderate leaders were working hard in an attempt to find 6 satisfactory defense formula.
 Cripps postponed his departure for home and Mohandas K. Gandhi spiritual leader of the Nationalist movement, cancelled plans to leave for his retreat at Wardha as nee gotiations neared the crisis point,
 The All-1ndia Congress working committee prolonged it's meeting for three days In hope that 0 eomprom- Ise would be effected. Its report on the British offer, still being drafted, will be Issued at the final adjournment, it was sald
 Cripps revealed that he was in urgent communication with the cabinet in London in on attempt to And 0 formula by which Indian leaders would be conceded c satis- factory share in directing defense policies.
 He inHmated that these consulta- tons had been most helpful and commented;
 T may do something useful next week to solve the defense difficulty"
 CrIpps Keeps Up Hope
 Cripps had intended to leave Monday. He said he had decided to remain because he hoped negotiaS tons would succeed.
 Helpful suggestions have been received and obviously l am con- sulting No. 10 Downing street (Prime Minister Winston Church. ills office and official reSidence) constantly" he said
 He added that he had always been prepared to reconsider the British position, ne Bald,
 Cripps took occasion to deny charges in Indian Nationalist news papers that the viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow, had not been help ful.
 There was dim hope now of c solution, Indian NationalistS said, If Britain were actually prepared to reconsider basic parts Of its offer
 But they said there was little chance of agreement unless Britain agreed to make concessions extend ing far beyond the defense prob- lem. They said that Britain must give Indians control of key posts and agree to accept the advice of an Indian majority on the Wceroy's executive council or else revise radically other clauses Of the offer, especially those which might involve splitting up the country on minority Voteg