Evening star., 1942-02-16
Indian NutionuIists
Not Kin Of japanese
Writer Soys Hindus' Reaction
To 'Asio for the Asiotics'
Remains to Be Seen

~ USuO III tuS SAS1utbSS
Remains to Be Seen
By Bertram Benedict.
On an area 60 per cent that of conti-
mental United States, India supports q
population three times that of the United
States. India is not only prime market
for British products of all kinds, but
also a most important source of many
supplies for the British war machine.
And in holdings of Indian securities and
direct ownership of Indian factories, the
British people have a revenue producing
investment of perhaps $4,000, ,000, 900.
The political problem of India is not
unlike the problem which faced Great
Britain in Ireland. The one-fourth of
the population which is Mohammedan
fears domination by the great Hindu
majority, much as Ulster resisted domi-
nation by the Catholic majority of
Ireland. The Mohammedans are found
largely in the Northwest of India. Some
are Hindu converts, but many are
racially different from the HinduS. The
all-India Congress represents chiefly the
Hindus, and separate Mohammedan
League works at cross purposes with the
Congress.
This schiSm among the people of In
dia is adduced by the British govern
ment in finding that India is not yet
ready for complete self-government. The
Indian nationalists reply with pledges
that the Mohammedan minority will be
fully protected in any self-governing In
dia, also with charges that the British
deliberately foster the dissension be-
tween Hindu and Mohammedan.
With this setup the Mohammedans
are naturally more inclined than the
Hindus to tolerate British rule. So are
the native rulers of the 584 Indian states,
which exist largely in political and eco
nomic feudalism. These native rulers
might be even more enthusiastic about
dictatorship on the Nazi model.
The government in London declared
war for India in World War I, as for the
Dominions. But by World War II the
Dominions had achieved autonomy, and
declared war for themselves In declar-
ing war for India on September 5, 1885,
the British government acted without
consulting the several Indian national
political bodies.
India supported Great Britain In
World War I, sending some 300 900 COM
batants (some of them British nationals
under arms in India to the different
theaters Of war. also 40O,O 900 non-com-
batantS to work in lands outside of India
In 1917 Great Britain promised India
steadily increasing amount of elf-gov-
ernment, looking toward eventual au-
tonomy, and India was given separate
membership In the League of Nations.
In 1885 the Government of India Act
formulated complicated plan for In
dian federation, to 60 into effect when
certain conditions were fulfilled When
World War II broke out. London declared
that further steps toward federation
would have to wait until after the war.
Nevertheless, Gandhi came out for the
British cause, for the all-Indian Con-
gress is committed against the dicta-
torial philosophy. (The Congress up
braided Great Britain for recognizing
Gen. Frances government in Spain, and
for yielding to Hitler and Mussolini at
Munich) The left wing of the Congress,
dominated by Jawharlal Nehru, is dis
tinctly Socialist and pro-labor. In No.
vember, 1941, 10000 Indian troops were
reported to be serving overseas. In June,
194l, the Congress, disregarding Gandhi's
philosophy of resistance came out for
force to meet external aggression.
The Indian nationalists have become
increasingly hostile to the wartime steps
taken by the British in India. as we'll as
to the delay in establishing the 1885
plan. In August 1941, the Congress
offered cooperation to Great Britain in
the war if the British would formally
recognize India's right to complete in
dependence and would set up feder-
ated Indian government supported by the
lower house in the existing Indian legis-
lative assembly. When the British of
fered only free and equal" partnership
in the British Commonwealth of Ma
tions after the war. the Congress with
drew its offer. Nevertheless it remains
to be seen If India will react favorably
to the battle cry of Asia for Asiatics'
when put forward by a race with which
the people of India feel little or no
kinship.