Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-03
Here's Reason
India Spurned
Cripps' Offer
Internal Political Strife
Barrier 10 Leadership
BY PAUL MALLON


perplexing than when its leaders
rejected the Grips offer at first
on the ground it would not let
them lead their own army
against Japan-when they have
no leaders.
Troops they have aplenty,
about a million of them. 100000
of whom fought for the British
in Malaga or north Africa. But
few native officers among them
have risen above the position of
lieutenant or captain. They have
no majors. colonies. generals
capable of handling large masses
of troops, no one to plan STRAIT
egg or make a battleline.
Their own internal political
factionalism, furthermore, clearly
would prevent elevation OF these
captains to generals, even II the
India leaders were sufficiently
unaware of military matters to
try it.
THE MOSLEMS hate the Sikhs
Il and vice versa TO such an
extent that the imposition OF
either faction as leader over
the troops of the other would be
like putting General Yamashita
over the Australians. War would
start right there, and not against
the Japs.
The apparent unreasonable
ness of the stand Immediately
caused some widespread suspi-
cions in this country that Nehru,
the strong man of India, was in
fact acting like petulant child.
moping over past wrongs OF the
British, unaware of the greater
peril at the gates of Burma.
That was not the estimate oil
Nehru prevalent in official quar-
ters here. midas politics may
be black on the surface but 1T
is never nonsensical-to the In
dams.
Nehru is a responsible and in
telligent leader, fully the equal
of British statesmen, a little on
the idealistic side and thereby
possibly prone TO overestlmate
the capacity of Indians-but not
as much as represented.
There is reason here to believe
Nehru knew what he wanted
from the start, and thought the
British needed him so badly he
could get it if he played his cards
coyly. He wanted as much do
mestic independence as he could
get, dominion status If neces-
sary, but he wanted it now.
DY INSISTING on the right OF
ID India to lead its own troops
into battle, even though 1t could
not do so, he would gain control
now. Of course, as soon as he
got the right he would have to
call on the British generals to
furnish the leadership, but at
least he would have established
his right. ~
Nehru's personal political sit
uation also lay behind his pecu-
liar Ito the outside) position.
He had just been released from
Jail. for having said. before the
japanese outbreak, December Z.
that India should not 60 to war
for British imperialism.
Naturally TO him. the techni-
cal point of acquiring the right
to ask for British leadership, is
therefore of even greater Inn
portance. Anything else would
be an abasing abandonment OF
his principle.
He has taken a lot of personal
setbacks in the past. at the
round table conference, in the
India elections. once when
Gandhi forced him to accept
compromise. He probably could
not take another and maintain
his position as strong man or
India.
CRIPPS knew his plan could
~ not be wholly accepted-for
another less technical reason.
The Sikhs came out against 1t
first. and naturally so. Since
the time of Christ they have
ruled the Punjab area. even
after they were over-run by
Moslem infiltration, simply be-
cause they were tougher than
the MoslemS and enjoyed fight
ing more than any other form OF
recreation or business.
Under the Grips plan. or
under the Democratic idea, they
would have to surrender 10 Mos
lem leadership. because they
are a minority even in their
own region.
But Grips had 10 appeal to
the Moslems. because of their
strong position. particularly in
the outside world. In India
proper the Moslems have about
1000, 900. the Sikhs only 4,5Q0,-
600 and the Hindus about 240,-
100000.
TNHE British knew the Indians
Il would never go over TO the
Japs the way the Burmese did.
They do not consider themselves
Orientals. They have no kinship
with the Japanese. They are
friendly 10 China, but in a neigh
borly sense, rather than one Of
kinship.
Their historic policy Of pas
sive resistance they know would