Evening star., 1942-03-25
Cripps in India

sRRS ~ uuOuO
Sir Stafford Cripps is well into his
momentous mission. His prelimi-
nary plea was for Cancellation and
mutual understanding, coupled with
frank warnings as to the urgency of
a speedy decision. There is no time
to lose and no time for long discus
sions," he stated, and he let it be
known that he. intended to return to
England in about fortnight for the
many urgent and important mat
ters" which there awaited his atten-
ton.
Britain's envoy extraordinary to-
day confronts his first big hurdle
when he confers with the spokesmen
of India's chief rival factions, the
National Congress party and the
All-India Moslem League. Despite its
claims that it represents the entire
Indian people, the Congress party is
overwhelmingly Hindu. The fact
that its president is Moslem may be
put down as political eyewash, be-
cause the number of Moslems who
belong to the party is very small.
The Moslem League undoubtedly rep
resents the overwhelming bulk Of
this religious group that makes up
one-fourth of 1ndia's population. In
India, as in Ireland, religion de-
termines political affiliations; so
Hindus and Moslems line up about
as solidly as Catholics and Orange
men do in Ulster. Indeed, the Indian
situation is much more complicated
by the presence Of other religious
minorities such as Sikhs, native
Christians and the low-caste Hindu
depressed classes" who fear Con-
gress rule aS an instrument Of the
Brahmin oligarchy. Lastly, there are
the 600 native princes. both Hindu
and Moslem, who transcend religious
lines in q common effort to preserve
their privileges.
That is the tangled skein of rival
interests and prejudices which has
for many years defied all efforts at
solution or workable compromise.
But the peril Of Japanese invasion
may prove to be the sharp sword of
necessity whereby the Gordian knot
can be cut. Certainly, Sir Stafford
Cripps is the ideal mediator. An ar
dent anti-imperialist, he would per-
sonally like nothing better than to
see India wholly self-governing.
What should be kept in mind is that
this Is not q simple yes or no propo-
sition. The Indian factions must
come to some mutual understanding
II wholesale disorder and possible
civil war is not to replace British
rule.
Unfortunately, the rival leaders of
the two main factions are not COM
promisers. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,
the Congress party head, combines
uncompromising nationalism with
economic radicalism of an almost
Communist slant, and thus dislikes
British capitalism as much as he
does the British. Raj. Mohamad Ali
Jinnah, militant Moslem, rules his
All-India League with the autocratic
strictness Of party boss and has
most unyielding record. 1t would
not be strange to see both leaders
stand pat, despite Cripps, the Japa-
nese, or any other considerations.
However, they do not have quite
the last word. Both parties possess
working committees" which have the
right to consider and determine the
leaders recommendations. There are
many Hindu and Moslem moderates
who might refuse to follow a die
hard policy that would probably
spell common subsection to japanese
rule. It should be remembered that
the vast majority of Hindus and
Moslems alike are primarily inter-
ested In peace, order and a chance to
make humble living. Faced with
impending invasion and chaos, the
voice Of workaday India may yet
confound the cliques of f1rebrand
politicians and their rival slocans