India's Part in the War
Since the new National Defence Council in India, which began its inaugural session at Simla on Monday, is naturally and necessarily conducting its deliberations in secret, comment must be confined to the proceedings at the formal opening sitting, when the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Archibald Wavell. read a message from the Prime Minister emphasising the brilliance of the performances of Indian troops in the war already, and the importance of the role they may be called on to play in future. In his article on another page our con- tributor " Strategicus " dwells on the immense value of the increased reliance our Middle East forces are able to put on supplies from India rather than from this country. The Viceroy himself is entitled to chief credit for the establishment of the Eastern Group Supply Council, which has coordinated the whole productive effort of British Dominions and depend- encies in the Pacific area through a standing committee estab- lished at Delhi, and the applause with which members of the Defence Council greeted a reference to the recent further exten- sion of Lord Linlithgow's term of office was significant. Much more than in the last war India is fighting for herself as well as the whole Commonwealth, as the all but bloodless operations in Persia have arrestingly reminded her. Not much less than a million Indians are now under arms, tvery one of them, as Mr. Amery pointed out pertinently in a recent broadcast to America, a volunteer. The Prime Minister was able to promise them all necessary equipment from now on. The National Defence Council has been created to enable leading Indians to receive information and give advice. It is a wise-and hopeful departure.
Previous page
