The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-03-31
MEMBER or


, IN lNOlN
Most arguments for self'govern
ment Of India quickly stumble over
the Moslems attitude. OneIourti
Of midas seething millions are Mo
hammedans. As a practical matter
Sir Stafford Grips will have dim
Guilty pressing any self.gove nmen
solution which does not satisfy thi'
minority.
Small minoritles can be largel!
ignored. China has Moslem minor
ity so small il is not politlca
factor. But ludias Mohammedsn'
are a strong political force. Fur
thermore, any affront 10 them IL
India brings reactions throughout
the whole Moslem world.
II through dissatisfaction Will
whatever Cripps may propose Mos
lem leaders should cry that Islam
is being put IN jeopardy by the
British. the effect would be fell
sharply in Egypt. Palestine. and
other areas OF the vital Middle East
And 1t is that Middle East lying be
tween Europe and Asia which the
perately to hold. in order TO keen
Germany and Japan separated.
Moslems fear rule by Hindus,
who constitute a three-qusrters ma
jority. This is more than a political
issue II is religious issue -
viewed by Moslems somewhat as
Catholics In America might fear
rule by the ku Klux Khan.
The leader OF Indian Moslems is
Ali Jinnsh. He Is highly intelligent,
rather modern, and leans to the
tolerant side. Earlier he was actu-
ally member OF the All India
Congress, supporting the Gandhi
movements a fair number of
Moslems still are. despite its over
whelming Hindu character.
The current president OF the
Congress is not Gandhi or Nehru,
but a Moslem named Abul Kalan
Azed
When Jinnah broke with the Con
gress. he became head OF the Al
India Moslem League to oppos,
Hindu domination without adequat,
protection. He favored partitionin.
India, setting up separate Moslem
states.
Jinnah refused 10 support the war
effort al first. But ne is wise politi
cally and undoubtedly realizes that
with Japan threatening India. all hi.
hopes cannot become fact. His pasl
position has not met with approval
OF all Moslems some OF whom felt
II was dividing midas effort 20
obtain self-rule.
He is playing a careful game. He
hesitated TO meet Grips Until after
sending delegation 70 sound ont
the situation and TO see IL Cripps
offers an acceptable basis for discus
sion.
The question Of whether Jinnah
speaks for all Moslems is raised
by the fact that. OF four Moslem
provincial premiers. three are not
members OF Jinnah's Noslem League
but cooperate with Congress peo-
pie This indicates that the obstacle
OF the Moslem question is not lnsu
perable.
One difficulty is that, as this
question OF self-rule comes closer
to reality. the struggle between
Hindus and Moslems 10 get thai
power naturally intensifles Thu.
leads 10 bitterness. Just as during an
American presidential campaign.
Jinnah can do much toward soft
ening the situation. The fact tina
In 1919 he was considered an am
bassador Of Moslem Hindu unit
indicates he is not a fanatic. n.
broke into protest against Allie,
partitioning Of Moslem Turkey afte
the last war. which left bitternes 8
But he remained a member OF 10,
Indian Congress until 1890 Not
hide5ound Moslem. in election car
paigns his opponents charge hin
with being unorthodox. Like Nehru
he is sophisticated
j. is significant that these tw,
] leaders OF India are mod
1ot slavishly holding to oil.
s. This Is q symptom O
hat the same ferment whicl
ht Russia IN one leap from tn
ieYal 10 the modern age.
As the situation appears nov
there is little chance OF dominic,
status for India until the Mosleml
and Hindus compose their lons
standing feud In a friendly fashion
This may mean that there will b
no constitutional change In India
government until after the war. an
then not until the Moslem-Hind
breach is healed. There is litu
doubt but that chaos would resul
II India were given self.rule befor
the internal groundwork for II :
carefully prepared.
History. In the long run Is likel
to write down the visit OF SIR Stat
ford Grips to India az one Of IN
most fatefui diplomatic missions ii
the worlds annals
Sir Stafford was marvelously su,
cessful as Britain's ambassador q
the Soviets IN bringing the BIRTHS
and Russian peoples together IN
common war-front against the Axis
III he can bring harmony and uni.
OF effort 10 the huge and divers
indian peninsula In the face o. tn
Japanese menace be will rank a
one OF the supreme diplomats q
all time.
Harmony Is one OF the thing
india has never had, but Il is tn
thing lost urgently needed. II IN
tide OF war is 10 be halted in %
Far East and the men OF hippo
are 10 be turned back eventual
for close siege and defeat.