The Indian Congress's Demands
The conversations which the Viceroy has been having with the leaders of the different parties and communities in British India serve as reminder that the Indian National Congress. important as it is, cannot claim to be the accepted voice of India. The Moslems, indeed, appear to be strongly opposed to the issue of such a declaration on India's future status as the Congress is so urgently demanding. And the Depressed Gasses, like other minorities, would view with apprehension the issue of a statement on lines desired by a majority whose policy by no means always takes their interests into account. In such cir- cumstances Lord Linlithgow's position is obviously very difficult. The All-India Congress Committee, meeting at Wardha on Monday and Tuesday, passed by 188 votes. to ;8 a resolution condemning Nazism and demanding from the British Government a declaration promising complete self-government to India. The Working Committee is to suspend action pending negotiations with the Viceroy, but Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru declared rather ominously that there was no middle course between agreement with the British Government and conflict. None the less a clear declaration by the Viceroy that full Dominion status for India is the accepted goal of British policy, and that it will be attained at the earliest moment practicable, should go far to satisfy the aspirations of all but the extremists.
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