§ 4.4 p.m.
§ LORD SNELLMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government whether they can indicate their attitude towards the problems facing them in India.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA AND BURMA (THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE)My Lords, I am glad to have this early opportunity of explaining the attitude of the Government to the present regrettable political deadlock in India. The attainment by India of free and equal partnership in the British Commonwealth is the goal of our policy as it was that of the late Government. We recognise, as my noble friend Lord Zetland made clear in his speech of April 18, that it is for Indians themselves to play a vital part in devising the form of Constitution best adapted to India's conditions and to 390 India's outlook. The promise already given that the present scheme of the Act of 1935 and the policy and plans of which it is based are to be open to re-examination at the end of the war necessarily implies discussion and negotiation, and not dictation. We have no desire to delay any of the steps that may pave the way towards an agreed settlement that will take account of the legitimate claims of all communities and interests. On the contrary we have been and are only too anxious to make our contribution towards such a settlement. The difficulty at this moment lies in the acute cleavage of opinion which has developed in India itself affecting issues fundamental to the character of her future Constitution and even to the approach to the problem.
His Majesty's Government refuse to regard that cleavage as unbridgeable. Even if no final agreement on the major issue is immediately in sight we cannot think that it is beyond the resources of Indian statesmanship to find at any rate such a provisional accommodation as would admit of the resumption of office with general consent by Ministers in the Provinces and the appointment to the Governor-General's Executive Council of representative public men on the basis already offered. We believe that such a solution of the present deadlock, provisional no doubt, but still easing the way to eventual agreement, would be eagerly welcomed by the overwhelming body of Indian public opinion. India has from the outset of the war made manifest her sympathy and support for the Allied cause and her anxiety to lend to that cause all the aid in her power. It is the sincere and earnest hope of His Majesty's Government that in the situation which faces the whole civilised world to-day existing differences may be put aside and that the leaders of the great political Parties in India will come together in agreement in support of the common effort. The Viceroy, with the approval of His Majesty's Government, has spared no effort to bring the parties together and to endeavour to find a basis for progress which would be generally acceptable. His own readiness to help in any way he can remains unabated.
§ 4.8 p.m.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWEMy Lords, first I wish to express the pleasure I feel, 391 and which I am sure is shared by your Lordships, that the noble Duke my noble friend opposite is carrying on the more than century-old tradition of his family in taking a still more important place than he has already occupied in the counsels of His Majesty's Government. I think your Lordships will agree that the statement to which we have listened is as satisfactory as we could venture to hope for at this moment. It has so obviously been the fear of what I may call the more extreme section of opinion in India that this country would take advantage of the critical situation brought about by the war to postpone as far as possible or modify in a reactionary sense the changes which have been generally stated, and it is agreed will have to come in regard to the Government of India. I trust that further consideration will satisfy the Congress Party and enable them to see that any anticipation of this kind is altogether without foundation. I am certain that the Viceroy has done and will continue to do his best to dissipate any delusion of that kind. Nothing could be better than a return to office of the Provincial Ministers who thought it their duty to resign. It would in no way mean that they should go back on anything they have said or done, and yet it would be an earnest of their desire to co-operate with the Government here and with all the Governments of the Empire in resisting the attacks which Germany is making upon the liberties of the world.