Evening star., 1947-06-03
Britain Will Quiz
India This Year;
Partition Likely
z Dominions Planned
Till 48 if indians
Vote to Split Country
BY the AssoeiatAd Press

LONDON, June 81 Britain
promised today to hand over
power In India to the Indians
this year-under a temporary
dominion status which appeared
to make inevitable the partition
OF the country into Hindu and
Moslem states.
The Indians themselves are to
decide whether they will have one
or two governments.
Partition was the principal theme
OF the new British Indian policy.
announced simultaneously to the
Indian people and in both houses
OF the British Parliament after
acceptance by rival Indian political
leaders.
The Indian leaders advised the
Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, in New
Delhi today that they would divide
the country between Moslems and
-Moslems and take over power
from the British as peacefully as
possible.
Plan FavOrabiy Received"
Politicians in New Delhi predicted
that, when tempers and tension were
Gained. both the Hindu state and
the Moslem state might ask to re-
main in the British Commonwealth
of Nations.
Prime Minister Attlee, announcing
the new plan in the House Of Com
mons, said it had been 'favorably
received" by the Indian leaders, Ieav-
ing little doubt that the offer for
splitting of the country would be
accepted and acted on.
The Viceroy told the Indian people
of the plan in a broadcast, Lord
Listowel, the India Secretary, made
the announcement in the House OF
Lords. A white paper was issued
on the subject. q.
Legislation will be introduced
during the present session of Parli-
ment for the transfer of power
to one or two Indian governments,
depending on which system the In
dian people subscribe to.
Thus, until the absolute with
drawal of the British, scheduled for
July, 1948, India will be composed
of one or two self-governing coun-
tries which will belong to the Brit
ish Commonwealth of Nations.
Churchill Backs Proposal.
Former Prime Minister Winston
Churchill threw the backing of the
Conservative opposition behind the
principle of temporary dominion
status for India-whether as a
united country of 39o,000,0Oo or
as q separate Pakistan (Moselm)
and Hindustan CHindu)-but re-
served the right to oppose details of
the plan.
Mr.. Churchill said a blood bath"
for India may stand very near" Z"
He added that the partition pro-
posal might "offer to India some
prospect of escape from one of the
most hideous calamities that has
ever ravaged the vast expanses of
India"
Communist Willie GALLAGHER Of
fered the sole opposition to the plan.
He said he was "the more suspicious
of the solution because Mr.. Church
i'll, who has a bad record in connec-
tion with India, gives 1t such sup
port"
Machinery for Decision.
Briefly, the machinery for settling
the question of partition in the Mos
lem areas will be as follows:
l. Indian members of the pro-
vincial legislative assemblies of Ben
gal and Punjab will be asked to
meet in two parts, one representing
Mosley majority districts and the
other the other areas of the prov
inces. If either part decides by a
majority vote in favor of partition,
division will take place.
2. H-as expected-partition is de-
cided on, a boundary commission
will be set up by the governor gen.
eral, in consultation with leaders
OF the major poiitical-religious
groups, to split the partitioned prov
inces into MoSlem and -Moslem
areas. Temporary boundaries are
indicated in an appendix to the
plan.
Sind's Legislative Assembly will
decide on partition at a special
meeting. If Punjab decides on par
tition, referendum will be held
among the electors of the adjacent
tSee INDIA, Page A-6)