LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
[Correspondents are requested to keep their letters as brief as is reasonably possible. The most suitable length is that of one of our " News of the Week" paragraphs. Signed letters are given a preference over those bearing a pseudonym.—Ed. THE SPECTATOR.] ENGLAND'S OPPORTUNITY IN INDIA
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The political situation in India today is extremely favourable to England despite what people may have to say to the contrary. There is no question of confusion, and one can clearly see the silver lining behind the cloUd.
The Indian earthquake of January. last which loomed as a great disaster has had salutary repercussions on Indian Politics. The great cataclysm was a signal for the suspension of the campaign of Non-Co-operation and Civil Disobedience, and a political truce subsequently followed with the idea of genuine Co-operation among officials, non-officials and Con- gressmen. At an important meeting at Patna Mr. Gandhi ten= tiered, to quote his own words, " respectful co-operation" to Government on behalf of the people. ..Soon after, the All-India Congress Committee held anjrnportant session at Patna in May, 1934, and formally announced its decision to suspend the Civil Disobedience movement at the instanceof no less a person than Mr. Gandhi hiinself. It further sanc- tioned entry into the Central Legislature and the various Legislative Councils of the Provinces with a view to co- operation with the Government of India. A Board Was formed known as the Congress Parliamentary Board with the avowed intention of setting up Congressmen as candidates for election to the different legislatures of the country. The Bombay session of the Indian National Congress has now ratified these proposals, and even maintained a dignified silence on the question of the Premier's Communal Award which threatened to be a bone of contention. Now the Indian National Congress is the body which is truly representative of the views of Nationalist India, so that minor differences of opinion among other parties do not affect its position in the least. Since the Congress has now held out a definite gesture of good will to the Government (albeit indirectly) it behoves England to respond to the same with alacrity. One feels convinced that failure on her part to seize this opportunity will spell disaster to both countries.
It IS true that the Congress does not openly approve of the constitution foreshadowed in the White Paper, but the fact remains that it is in no rebellious mood today. It is, therefore, amenable to reason. Mr. Gandhi, who has a tremendous hold on the country, has won over to his side the sober and saner elements within the Congress. While administering a sharp rebuke to the Socialists in the Congress he said : " Yoit Socialists, can you ever realize your ideal of complete national independence even in fifty generations ? " So, judging from circumstances it may very well be said that the Indian. political .situation is under the control of responsible persons who mean business. If Great Britain comes forward at the present moment with a constitution showing an appreciable advance on the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, the present unrest in India will have been considerably pacified.
The White Paper has undoubtedly its drawbacks, but the intelligentsia of the country realizes that, on the whole, it is a step forSvard. in the direction of the goal of self-government. It is admitted on all hands that as a result of the White Papei proposals about three .and a half million people will he enfranchized. In other words, the number of people having Votes will be ninefold greater than under the present constitution. To quote the words of a reliable authority: " The control of Military, Foreign affairs and to some extent the Fiscal Policy, will continue to be reserved, but in other respects the ministers appointed will be responiffile to the Assembly. In the provinces there is no doubt that full responsible Government is going to be established if the constitution embodied in the White Paper is implemented. The. nomination of officials and non-officials will cease to exist. The council will, therefore. consist of elected MeMbers. The Ministers will be responsible to the council for their actions as ministers." It will thus be Seen that fhe -brighter side of the White Paper is not altogether ignored by reasonable politicians in India. It will not be injudicious, however, to utter a word of timely warning to England. The proceedings of the conference of conservatives at Bristol and the Activilles of Mr. Churchill have alarmed the people and created a sm. picion about the sinister designs of Diehards on—indfn. It is apprehended that even the White Paper recohithendations may be whittled down by the incorporation: of 'such flatten as indirect elections, reservations of special branch police and extra securities for pension payments. On November 22nd, the Joint Parliamentary Committee is expected to submit its report on the proposed 'new constitution for India. The only way to allay suspicion would be to translate that report into law as expeditiously as practicable. Rightly has the Marquess of Dufferin and Ava condemned the ". iron hand" in politics in his address to the Ulster Unionist Labour Asso- ciation, while General Smuts's recent plea at Dundee for self. government fo1 India has given no mean satisfaction to the aching heart of India. Utterances like these are helpful in restoring India's confidence in the good faith of the British public.
Mr. Gandhi's retirement from the Congress, which is now a settled fact, means the withdrawal of a very powerful tempering influence from Indian politics. Unless there is a statesman-like solution of the Indian problem the Socialist or Terrorist forces of disruption may assume larger propor- tions than they did in the past. The choice is, therefore, England's ; whether she will encourage the forces of modera- tion in the Congress and in the country, or those of uncom- promising extremism. Indeed, India's present gesture means England's opportunity.—I am, Sir, &c., ISHVARINANDAN PRASAD (Advocate, High Court).
Lohanipur, Patna, E.I. Ry., India.
Previous page
