The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-03-31

@N~9aS eSSSASAh
The first conference occurred
In New York City Just n year ugo
and came close TO having rover-
bcrating consequences, White,
who heads one Of the most I'M
portant Negro organizations In the
United States, had had some cor
respondence with Prime Minister
Churchill regarding the status OF
Negroes In the British West In
dies. Churchill forwarded this
correspondence TO his AmbaSsn-
dor In Washington, who In turn
conferred with White nj the home
Of Thomas Lamont, OF tho j. p.
Morgan firm, In New York.
Viscount Halifax, one OF the
most courteous and scholarly en-
Voys Britain has ever sent tot he
United States, opened the conVer-
Sation with some remarks about
negro war morale In the United
States, the importance Of keeping
the morale high, and the work
Walter White was doing toward II.
This brought the following re-
mark from White:
"YOur Excellency, do you want
10 cOnflno this conversation 20
che United states or may we talk
about other parts OF the world
which affect the United States"
INDIAN INDEPENDENCE
Lord Halifax looked u bit sur
prised, but replied that he would
be glad TO talk about the entire
world. Whereupon White point
cd out that the Indian question
had q great effect upon negroes
In the United States and their
war morale. He added that he I'M
derstoodt he British position re-
garding India that independence
could not be separated from the
clash Of Mohammedan- Hindu
races, etc. He said he also under
stood that the English resented
the visits Of American officials
In India TO study the question OF
independence.
therefore I would like 20
make this suggestion" continued
white. "Why mot send q COM
mission Of top-ranklng Ameri-
cans 20 India TO advise and
consult sympathetically with you
regarding the entire Indian
question?
81 suggest, for instance, q
commission including Wendell
WIllkle,, leader Of the loyal
opposition 20 President IlO0se-
welt; also Justice Felix Frank
furter, and, third, prOmin-
ent American negro. ! suggest
this because Of the effect u
would have mot only upon the
Indians and the Chinese, but
on the negroes Of the United
states and the millions Of col
Ored peoples In the Pacific"
White went on to point out
that with the Japs on the Bur-
mese border las they were In
March, 1897 nothing could In
fluence Indians more and give
them more confidence In British
pledges regarding the future than
a friendly American commission
OF It's kind.
Lord Halifax leaned forward.
tapned White on the knee and
said: "YOu know, that's the most
practical suggestion I've heard"
White also proposed an interna-
tional commission to protect In-
dIa from Jap Invaders. He Sug-
gested that the commission be
commanded by Gen. Macarthur,
with one Chinese General. one
Indian officer and one British Of
ficer.
ROOSEVELT CONSULTED
With the British ambassadors
consent, the plan was presented
TO President Roosevelt. who In
turn asked Undersecretary Of State
Welles TO confer with White.
Welles had several talks with
White and feltt hat the idea
would help to counter the argu-
ments Of Oandhi and Iiehru that
the United States was working
with the British TO continue Bri-
tish In oerialism.
At that particular moment, the
Japs were advancing almost daily
toward India. the Indian popula-
ton was apathetic and many lead
ers seemed ready TO go over TO
the Japs. Something had TO be
heart before His life-giving good
ness can flow across our barren