The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-09-17

Strategic LOCATION OF
Country Vital 70 Allies
Iron Hand Still Kept Up
BY British Leadership
Nv RAYMOND cLAPPER
WASHINGTON - writing
about India Is teklish business
row. Washington and London
are not eve to eye and Prime
Minister Churchill has made it
clear in his statement to COM
mons that he proposes no further
effort TO reach an agreement
with the Gandhi movement.
The Churchill statement prsc-
tically stymies American Off
Gals in bringing up this ques-
ton again. especially in view OF
their failure in the past TO make
any Roadway. They are left
frustrated and unhappy.
American troops are in India.
The government is considering a
program Of assisting in enlarg-
ing war production in India as
recommended by the recent
American technical mi SIS on
headed by DR.. Henry F. Grady.
That would involve diversion OF
American war production equip
ment and some technical assist
ance.
Anything that may be done
would be predicated on the be-
lief that India IL of enormous
strategic Importance to the
United Nations. Otherwise
American troops would not he
there now. The reasons are
obvious.
China can be supplied at pres
emit only through India. II we
ever hope to drive the Japs out
of Burma, 1t must be done from
India. The ultimate campaign
against Japan undoubtedly would
include action through India and
China, no matter from what
other direction we also attacked.
India, as is clear from the
map, has a central location so
that whoever controls it controls
access to China and overlooks
supply routes into the Middle
East and Russia. Besides. India
is an enormous country rich in
raw materials and labor supply.
India supplies certain critical
materials to the United Nations.
In other words, India is a
British colonial problem and also
a United Nations war problem.
Americans who were in the
Burma campaign saw at first
hand how the indifference and
treachery Of the Burmese ham,
pered the allies. The concern
now is whether Americans in
India will be compelled to fight
the Japs against an embittered
Indian population.
Gandhi and the Congress party
crowd are cantankerous and ex-
asperating to deal with. Gandhi's
present campaign amounts in
effect II not In intention 10 a
stab In the back for the allies.
Nehru gave In TO Gandhi but
he feels strongly against the
Japs and the axis.
Some friends of Gandhi say
that to the last he wanted TO
negotiate and sent an emissary
to the viceroy but was rebuffed.
These partisans Of Gsndhi feel
that the British decided to force
a showdown and try to smash
the independence move ment.
How much credence can be
placed in that version is hard
to say. 1t is true that after
the failure Of the Grips mission,
no further attempt was made by
the British to work out a settle
ment and preparations for the
showdown were begun.
Few here question the need
Of the British asserting their
authority in India in face of
Gandhi's challenge. You do
hear the question whether il
will be enough to repress the
challenge and stand on that.
The whipping post is being used,
and the question is whether after
the flashing you then let it 20 at
that and consider that every
thing Is all right. That is GER
tainly not the kind of relation
ship that fits into my picture
Of what our side is like. We
have to lick the Jsps and Hitler,
but is this the kind Of thing
that is going to be insisted upon
as a hy-product?
Temporarily we have tried 10
sidestep that undesired by
product by issuing orders to
American troops in India not 10
participate in any internal trou-
bic. Orders have been issued TO
the American military forces in
India 10 remember that they ar,
there 10 fight the axis and 10
help China. During disorders
American troops are confined to
quarters