NEWS OF THE WEEK
IN spite of certain sporadic disturbances, the calm restored to India by the' Viceroy's declaration last week continues. The most important event of the last few days has been the decision taken by the Council of the All-India Muslim League by an overwhelming majority to accept the British Government's plan. The terms of the decision are a little ambiguous, for while the Council declares it cannot agree to the partition of Bengal and the Punjab, it gives full authority to Mr. Jinnah to accept the fundamental principles of the plan. That means at least a postponement of difficulties, and the main thing is to, proceed forthwith with the essentials of the scheme. That is already being done in London, where a short Bill providing for the transfer of power in India to the Dominions of Hindustan and Pakistan is already in preparation. Since it is in- tended •to carry the Bill during this session, which is already far advanced, there is no time to be lost. Simultaneously, the Viceroy is continuing his informal talks with the Indian leaders, and nne sign of progress is the decision of the Muslims, who have hitherto held aloof from the Constituent Assembly, to take their places there. Some difficulties will inevitably be caused by the transition from one Constituent Assembly to two, for Hindustan and Pakistan will have to draft their respective constitutions separately, and there is no likelihood that the two will be identical. Other difficulties will have to be faced, for in spite of the reservations made by the Muslim League partition of Bengal and the Punjab seems certain. The posi- tion of the States, moreover, has not been defined. It is reported that Hyderabad, the most important of them, has decided to declare for independence. If that example is widely followed there will be a considerable fragmentation of India—though there is nothing irrational in the independence of a State which, like Hyderabad, has an area of 8o,000 square miles and a population of 16,000,ono.
