Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-04
Britain Won Keep
Bases in Free India,
Viceroy Promises
BY The Assoe;aied Press {

BY me Assoeiaied Press
NEW DELHI, June Wis
count Mountbatten. Viceroy of
India, promised the Indian peo-
pie today Britain would retain
no bases whatever within the
subcontinent when its complete
independence is achieved under
the. new British plan.
7 think it would be most improper
for any foreign power to have bases
In India" the yiceroy told a news
conference.
He made 1t plain that under the
plan, announced yesterday, Hindu
stan Hindu India) and Pakistan
'fMoslem India would be independ-
ent both of British and each other
and that neither could control the
other on the question of remaining
within the British commonwealth.
BOTH win have dominion status for
the transitional period.
Dominion status Is absolute in
dependence" the viceroy said.
The native tprincelyJ states will
get their own independence from
Britains paramount authority as
soon as power is transferred In the
rest OF India, Lord Mountbatten
said, and will be free to choose
whether they will be independent or
will join Hindustan or Pakistan.
Princes Denied Dominion Status.
The princely states will not be
permitted to have dominion status
within the empire, the viceroy said.
This assurance was welcomed by
Nationalist Indians, who had voiced
a suspicion that the British might
seek to keep bases within India by
treaty agreements with the Mahara-
jahs and Rajahs.
But the viceroy made it clear that
leaders of the major Indian parties
wanted no provisions in the plan
which would have permitted BAL
kanization of India" He said it
probably would be matter of geog-
raphy which section OF India the
princely states would join.
Precautions have been taken, he
revealed, to prevent bloodshed in
the transition, and minorities will
be protected.
There is no legal means by
which Britain can enforce the pro-.
lection of minorities," Lord Mount
batten said. but I have talked with
leaders Of both sides and am assured
that, SO long as they are in power,
they plan to look after minorities as
well as they may
Cant Always Run to Britain"
Lord Mountbatten emphasized
that he had no intention of impos-
ing British will on the Indians on,
any question.
"Will you please believe me?" he
said. Il am quite sincere. You
must decide these questions for
yourselves. You can't always run
to Britain to settle all your prob
lems."
Lord Mountbatten said that once
the Indians controlled their own
destinies, common sense will pre-
vail" Then, he said. there would
be "a revulsion of feelings so that,
whereas before there was bitterness,
the leaders will come together in a
spirit of cooperation.
Lord Mountbat item assured the
Indians there is absolutely nothing
sinister in this plan"
Moreover, Lord Mountbatten de-
clared that the full force of Indian
military strength would be used, If
necessary, to maintain peace during
the transition period.
He conferred briefly with Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel, home minister in
the interim cabinet, and then said
he was disclosing q cabinet secret:
I'VE are determine that the solu-
ton found will be peaceful and
that there be no bloodshed. All
members of the cabinet are agreed
that the armed forces will be used
to assure that there be no disturb
ance."
For the most part the new deci-
sions appeared to have been ac-
cepted calmly and there were no
reports from any quarter of dis
turbances arising from the few
compromise. There was continued
fighting in Punjab between Moslems
on one side and Sikhs and Hindus
on the other, but that has been
going on for three months.
Lord Mountbatten declared that
no party had asked to remain in
the commonwealth beyond the tenn
porary period while arrangements
are being made for the transfer of
power from British to Indian hands.
This transfer, he said, was expected
to be complete possibly in August.
In light mood he added that he
had bought steamship ticket. for
sometime in August
Leaders Appeal for Support.
Indian leaders of the embittered
rival factions appealed to the people
in broadcasts last night to support
the plan. They assured Lord
Mountbatten that under the plan
they would proceed with the divi-
sion Of the country into Hindustan ]
a Hindu state, and Pakistan, a
Moslem nation, and would take over
the power from the British as
peacefully as they knew how.
The party leaders appealed to the
people to put an end to the coun-
try's violence and bloodshed and to
maintain order. during the critical
period of transition.
They indicated dissatisfaction
with the plan but said it was the
best available solution to the coun-
try's fierce political and religious
differences.
AS they spoke, vast preparations
were under way against the POSSIBLE
ifv of OlItbronks hv dissenting far.