8 MAY 1942, Page 11

THE INDIAN ISSUE

Sin,—May I reply to the three main objections stated in the Parliamentary debate to stand in the way of an inunediate shifting of power from hitehall to India:

(a) The amendment of the Act of 1919. (2) The shifting of power to an Indian Executive who would be irresponsible to the people, as no General Election can be held in war-time to the Central Legislature.

(3) The question of Minorities and the Princes.

As to (1), English Constitution has developed by convention, usage lid practice more than by the letter of the law—even today it is unwritten. The final authority of the Secretary of State for India can be suspended by convention and the same transferred to the people of India acting for the time being through a Privy Council for India ; such one as existed here before the rise of Parliament and such a one as exists in Canada today. Its high qualifications would rise above all Commercial and careerist ambition. This body would advise the Crown on differences arising between the Indian and the British Cabinets. rhat India wants today is a transfer of power from Whitehall to India. As TO (2), would the Indian Executive be less responsible to its people than an alien Secretary of State for India who has' no knowledge of the people and often acts in accordance with the policy of his party and Tiolently against the interests of India?

In short, would an irresponsible Indian Executive be any worse than Co irresponsible Secretary?

As to (3), how does Whitehall protect the Minorities? What has it (tone for them during the last Iso years? As to the Princes, they claim Co be under treaty with the Crown. The Crown has for long acted on the advice of the British Cabinet. There is nothing to prevent it acting future on the advice of the Indian Cabinet. The Treaty does not *lige the Crown not to take advice from whomsoever it pleases.

But all these questions are out of date in an emergency which calls for the co-operation of United India only possible on the charter of Freedom without which India will add greatly to the enigmas of the war.—Yours, &C., HARI SINGH GOUR. 8 Royal Avenue, Chelsea, S.W. 3.