Evening star., 1942-03-29

Britdin's uar efort.-A. P. Photo.
and religions that he was called upon
to try to resolve.
The Moslems, a fanatic and warlike
people, want separate independence. They
would break of from the rest of India
those states, such as the Punjab, In
which they have a large majority of the
population. The British fear that this
separatist movement would result in the
Balkanization Of India, a move of par
ticular peril now that menacing foe
is just off Indias borders.
The Hindus form the largest group.
They dominate the All-India Congress
and their leader, Nehru, has a sympa-
thetic following in England and the
United States. The Hindus have long
agitated in every possible way for do
minion status for India and often their
demonstrations have been put down with
violence. While there is considerable
pent-up bitterness over the long delay,
it is possible that they would now be
willing to accept some form of dominion
government.
Petty Incidents Magnified.
Between the Hindus and the Moslems
there is much friction. In areas where
the former dominate local government
the Moslems constantly complain of un-
fair treatment. This arises out of petty
incidents which are magnified in the
light of the ancient rivalry between the
two peoples. Nevertheless, a Moslem is
now chairman of the All-India Congress
and there is Moslem faction willing to
go in with the Hindus in a dominion
government.
One Hindu leader, Sabhas Chandra
Bose, went over to the Axis at the out
break of the war He is in Berlin, where
he makes records that are broadcast to
the Far East. Bose calls on the Indians
and all other colored peoples to revolt
against white rule. At one point before
his flight he had approximately 81 per
cent of the Hindus behind him.
Then there are the native states with
their absolute rulers who were character
lied recently by Laski as men still living
with one foot in the Ritz Hotel and the
other in the 14th century" 1t is these
feudal potentates who have given India
its romantic coloration. Most of them
cooperate with the British and in the
last war and in this one they have made
handsome presents to the British cause
Then there are the untouchables, Co.
100000 people who by virtue of the caste
they were born into are outside the pale
of Hindu or Moslem society. Modern
leaders such as Nehru have sought to
break down or modify the caste system,
but 1t Is deeply entrenched in India's
past and cannot be changed overnight
The untouchables are fearful that with
dominion status under the leadership of
the Hindus they would be severely dis
eliminated against.
Those are the principal pieces of the
puzzle which Cripps must somehow fit
together. Even If it Is only temporary
solution 1t will serve to accentuate his
almost NEUROLOGICAL reputation"
With DR.. Laski, professor at the
London School Of Economics, Aneurin
Bevan, left wing trade union executive,
not to be confused with Ernest Bevin,
who Is member of the Churchill gov
ernment, and few others, Cripps argued
in 1886 and 1887 for collective security
and later for Peoples Front The
Labor party did not want to hear about
a popular front, even from the wealthy
aristocrat who had been so generous with
his contributions to the party.
Expelled From Labor Party.
Cripps and his followers saw in the
development of the Spanish civil war the
proof Of their arguments. They insisted
on every possible occasion that the in
vasion Of Spain by German and italian
forces meant the beginning of a war
which jeopardized the very life of Eng
land. But these were unpleasant warm
ings which leaders of the Labor party
chose to ignore. Along with other poll
ticians, the Laborites preferred to accept
the myth of non-intervention.
I saw Cripps several times in London
in the summer of 1887. He felt keenly
the peril to the country and the hope
leSSness of his own opposition to the non-
Intervention policy of the government
With an almost prophetic vision he
talked of the threat to British security
Even his friends in the Labor party felt
that he would do better to keep silent,
or to speak more moderately. They con.
ceded his talents. but In politics they