Evening star., 1942-07-26
India Declared Near Anarchy
Following Cripps' Failure
Illustration and Desperation Seen
Among Leaders Of Congress Party

ing Indians who believe otherwise
but their opinions will go for naught
unless they can change the mind of
Mahatma Gandhi. who is more influ-
ential than all of them put together.
One of these dissenting voices
comes frcm DR.. P. N Banerji, a
leader of the Nationalist Party, who
urged postporement of the disooedi-
ence movement until after the war
but at the same time recognizes
the Congress dilemma. He says that
the Cripps mission came to India
with proposals which not only did
not include the transfer of real
power to the people during the war.
but did involve the possibility OF
the vivisection of India. The mis-
sion thus dealt a serious blow to
India's aspiration for freedom and
unity. This drove the Congress
to desperation and the resolution
Of the (Congress) Working Com
mittee Is an expression of that feel
ing"
Though the Congress demands are
appreciably sitter today than at the
time of the Cripps visit and through
Gandhi and Nehru outwardly are
adamant, there is no denying that
in view of the more moderate atti-
tude of their colleagues it would
be difficult for them to reject any
new British offer which approxi-
mated the minimum Congress pro-
posals at the time of the Cripps'
negotiations. The opportunity has
not been lost for stroke Of British
craftsmanship which would not only
forestall serious internal upheaval
but possibly gain real Indian sup
port for the war effort.
Summary of Propositions.
Here in nutshell are the PROPOSE
tions which the British government
and the Indian National Congress
have put forward during and since
the Cripps visit:
/. Cripps offered dominion status
and complete freedom for India
after the war with the proviso that
each province and State would have
the right to determine it's own
destiny and either join or remain
aloof from the Indian federation.
For the duration of the war, Cripps
proposed the Inflammation of the
viceroy's cabinet with leaders of
the principal selections of the In
dian people" The British comman-
der in chief would, however, retain
control of war operations, though
certain stipulated branches of de-
fense would be handed over to In
dian management.
2. The Congress, while taking
strong exception to Britain's for
mula for granting independence by
regions. did not object to postpone
ment of this problem until after the
war. Meanwhile, it declared itself
ready to cooperate in the formation
of a truly national government"
for the duration of the war. How
ever. it was pointed out that the
government must be a cabinet gov
ernment with full power.
The Congress did not object to
continuation of the viceroy in Office
if he became the same as a consti-
tutional monarch. The Congress also
conceded the right of the British
commander n-chief to continue to
direct the actual military operations
but demanded that the British
grant an Indian defense minister
control of a greater range of mill
tary matters than the British we're
willing to grant. Nor were the Brit
ish willing to shear the viceroy of
any of his constitutional powers.
3. The latest Congress proposals,
as embraced in the resolution of the
Congress Working Committee, rep
resent drastic change in the Con-
gress' position. The Congress now
demands immediate withdrawal of
British political power from India.
Upon the British making declara-
ton OF such intention, leaders of
Indian elements would get together
and form provisional government
which would later call constituent
assembly. Allied troops would con-
tinue to operate from Indian bases
by agreement with the new govern
ment Obviously, this formula meets
opposition not only from the British,
but also from the Moslem minority.
The chances Of this plans accept
ance, even under extreme pressure,
are negligible.
tcen,risht 1s42. b. chicago Daily Nsws3