Evening star., 1947-02-20
Britain 10 Give
India Freedom
By June, 1948
Mountbutten Named
By AttIee to Succeed
WuveII as Viceroy
Rx the Associnted Press

LONDON, Feb. 2O.-Prime
Minister Attlee announced today
in the House of Commons
that it was the British govern
ment's definite intention to turn
India over to responsible Indian
rule by June. 1948.
Mr.. Attlee also announced the
recall of Field Marshal Lord Wavell
as Viceroy of India and the appoint
ment of Admiral Lord Mountbatten
to succeed him.
An authoritative source said Lord
Mountbatten was expected to leave
for India sometime in March" +"
This source said he understood that
Lord Wavel1 would retire from
public service.
WaveIl to Become Earl.
In regard to the Indian (prince-
ly) states,'' the Prime Minister SAID,
His majesty's government do not
intend to hand over their powers
and obligations under paramountcv
to any government of British India" F"
He said Lord Wavell, now & Wis
count, would be raised in the peer
age to the higher grade of earl.
Asked by Winston Churchill
What Emergencies or disagree
ments" had arisen between Lord
Wavell and the British government,
Mr.. Attlee refused to amplify his
statement.
Lord Wavell," he said, "was not
appointed for fixed term. It is
thought the changed phase of the
Indian problem is suitable time
to make change"
(The Indian states are gov
erned by princes or chiefs, who,
under British "paramountcy" are
required not to enter into alli-
ances or armed conflict with each
other or with foreign states. Un-
der paramountcy, the paramount
power reserves the right to inter-
vene in the event of misgovern-
ment.
(The states referred to have an
area of more than 100000 square
miles, almost half the total area
of India. The most important of
the princely states are Hydera-
bad, Mysore, Kashmir, Baroda
and GWalior.0
Recall Is Unexplained.
A tense House of Commons heard
Mr.. Attlee. in crisp terms, announce
the beginning of the end of Brit
aims 200-year rule over the rich
subcontinent. His statement gave
no explanation Of the recall of Lord
Waven. s......s
Declaring the present state of un-
certainty between the Congress Par
ty and the Moslem League was
"fraught with danger" and could
not continue, Mr.. Attlee said:
His majesty's government wishes
to make it clear that it is their def
mite intention to take the necessary
steps to effect the transference of
power into responsible Indian hands
by date not later than June, 1948."
Mr.. Attlee said it was essential
that all parties should sink their
differences in order that they may
be ready to shoulder the great re-
sponsibilities which will come upon
them next year"
Unless a fully representative
assembly" writes constitution for
free India-the present British In
dia, excluding the princely states
by June, 1948, Britain will have to
consider to whom the powers of the
central government in India should
be handed" said Mr.. Attlee.
Provinces May Rule Selves.
He said control then might be
turned over las a whole, to some
form of central government for
British India: or, in some areas, to
the existing provincial governments:
or in such other way as may seem
most reasonable and in the best
interests of the Indian people.
'It is not intended to bring para
as a system, to conclusion
earlier than the date of the final
transfer of power, but it is contem-
plated that for the intervening Pc
riod the relations of the crown with
individual states may be adjusted
by agreement.
His Majesty's government will
negotiate agreements in regard to
matters arising out of the transfer
of power with the representatives of
those to whom> they propose to
power
Only by implication did Mr.. Attlee
restate the British governments
often expressed hope that free In
dia remain within the British COM
monwealth.
Expressing confidence that the
commercial connections between In
dia and the United Kingdom would
continue, he said:
"It will be the wish of every one
in these islands that, notwithstand-
ing constitutional changes, the asso-
ciation of the British and Indian
peoples should not be Brought to
an end, and they wish to continue
to do all that is in their power to
further the well-being of India"
Deadlock Cited as Reason.
Whitehall sources said yesterday
that Lord Wavell was being recalled
as a result of the current constitu-
tional deadlock in India between the
Congress Party and the Moslem
League.
The fact that the Indian interim
government-first step in the in
dependence plan-now is threatened
with complete breakdown because
of continuing disputes between the
Moslem League and the Hindu dom
mated All-India Congress Party ap-
parently was the main element i'm
pelling the new British action.
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