The Indian Issue
In spite of the debates on India in the two Houses of Parliament, the most important discussions this week are taking place in India itself. Mr. Rajagopalachari's success in persuading the Congress Party of the Madras Legislature to carry resolutions recognising the Moslem's right to separation, and calling for the opening of negotia- tions between Congress and the Moslem League, has faced the All-India Congress Committee, whose sittings opened on Wednes- day at Allahabad with an acutely controversial decision. The -vote has not been taken as this is written, but the prospect of the Madras resolution being adopted is small. There will, however, be a strong minority in favour of it, and if so respected a leader as Mr. Rajagopalachari should resign from the Congress Working Committee, and set himself to organise moderate opinion on the basis of an agreement, even though it be an agreement for separation, between Hindus and Moslems, a new and hopeful movement may be set on foot. Meanwhile, in spite of the view generally expressed in the House of Commons after Sir Stafford Cripps' speech on Wednesday, that the situation in India has definitely improved as the result of his visit, declarations by Pandit Nehru and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad are tending to strike a different note. However, all India realises that the one immediate issue is the Japanese menace, and the Viceroy's Council, with its Indian majority, and the virtually all-Indian National Defence Council, are working quietly and well.
