Evening star., 1942-11-06
Argues British Views
OF Problem of India.

To the Editor of The Star:
Samuel Grafton deserves support for
his plea for more frank speaking be-
tween the United Nations. One diff
Guilty, however, is that many critics, and
not a few columnists, speak without a
sufficient knowledge of the facts, espe-
cially where the British commonwealth
is concerned.
The war is too serious business for
any one to indulge in anything other
than constructive and informed critl-
cism. Ill-informed criticism will cause
dissension and disturb the enthusiastic
cooperation Of the Allies. Napoleon
admitted that he won his victories be-
cause the nations allied against him did
not cooperate with enthusiasm. Send
me 10000 men and one copy of the
.Marseillaise' and I will answer for vic
tory" wrote a French general during
the revolutionary wars. There Is all too
little enthusiasm among the United Ma
tions today, and this is partly due to
captious criticism.
The English have no objection to
Wendell WILKES address other than
that it is not too well documented.
They, of all people, probably are the
least sensitive to what other people think
and say about them. No one else, in
deed, is so severe a critic of the English
as the English themselves. This ex-
plains the publicity given to such ire
sponsibles as Lord Strabolgi, H. G. Wells
and Harold I,aski, whose utterances.
however, naturally but unfortunately.
receive 10 times more attention in the
United States than in England.
But Mr.. Grafton must not take the
English press reaction to Mr.. WILKES
address too seriously. The London Daily
Telegraph quite sensibly calls Mr.. Willkie
"a candid friend" but that is not to
condone his sentiments. And there is
no novelty in the Times Of London
agreeing that worldwide expansion of
economic opportunity and security are
needed" Englands record in encourage
ing these ends is at least as good as
that of any other nation. For years
she strove for free trade and has always
thrown her colonies as well as herself
open on equal terms to all nations.
The Manchester Guardian, when it
speaks of failure in india" of course, is
referring only to the present impasse
| and not generally to British rule in
India. In any case, the circulation Of
this paper is only about one -hundredth
| that OF the most widely read English
daily newspaper.
| Mr. Grafton asks what the effect
would be on Anglo American relations
If India is lost" and adds that "one who
| raises that question now is in the high
est sense a friend of better British
| American relations" But the question
| is idle; 1t is of little use raising 1t
unless one has practical contribution
! to make to the solution of problem
| which hitherto has bafhed the minds
| of the ablest English and Indian states
| men.
/ It is unnecessary Of Mr.. Grafton to
| reassure "Englishmen now alive that
they have had nothing to do with the
acquisition of India by England, nor are
responsible for the last $50 years" No
intelligent Englishman who knows the
facts. whatever his political color, Il
ashamed. either of his ancestors or Of
his own association with India. Eng
lishmen Of all views in Overwhelming
majority are behind their government
today In It's Indian policy. They are
Of British achieJ nent In India