Page Four India And The United Nations Strategy; Br THE B.C. LUMBER WOR ER January 25, 1943 ————— ing 390 Million People Into The War THEY ARE THE MAJORITY UNDER THE BRITISH. FLAG YET EVEN THE RIGHT TO DEFENSE IS DENIED THEM By DARSHAN SINGH SANGHA, Recording Secretary, Victoria IWA-CIO Local 1-118 TSE SEES political events have pushed India out of the political scene for the time being. What happened there two months ago now seems remote. But as long as the Indian problem remains unsolved she will again and again come into the world limelight. But is there an Indian problem? Despite all the recent cataclysmic happenings in India, there still exist Maginot mental ities of Blimp character, who would simply declare, like Sir Zaffarulla Khan, Judge of the Federal Court fo India, now in Canada: “The Indian problem is nine-tenths solved.” Then, if it is solved, why this “dull roar, confusion and carnage?” : To whatever extent the “escapist” element both in Britain and India may endeavor to ignore the Indian unrest, the truth leaks out despite the thick veil of censorship. Mr. W. L. Shirer, noted author and foreign corespondent, reported in his broadcast on Dec. 20, that there is more discontent in India today than on the day when Gandhi was arrested. Mr. Shirer was putting it mildly. , TpeG ‘olution not the India problem is in the nature of a “war measure.” It is not emo- tionalism on the part of Indian patriots but the exigencies of the war that challenge the United Na- tions to find a democratic solution for India. Once the political deadlock is broken, the mobilization of Indian manpower and resources can be- come a deciding factor in the de- elding factor in the defeat of the Axis, It is no longer a question of Indian Nationalism versus British Imperialism alone. With the new alignment of the world democratic forces, in the grand alliance of the United Nations—India being a member of the United Nations—the problem of India automatically be- comes the problem of the United Nations, Not long ago, Sumner Welles sald: “the United States is desirous of unity within each of the coun- tries of the United Nations .. . and among the United Nations” for the purpose of the successful pros- ecution of the war and the building of a just peace. It is therefore imperative that the United Nations should mediate be- tween Britain and India. Between these two anti-fascist nations, unity for the first time is possible, and the United Nations can help forge it. The responsibil- ity of the task rests equally on all members of the United Nations. For unity between Britain and India, unity within India, is essen- tial, In India it is imperative that there be unity between the differ- ent communities; between Hindus and Moslems, between the National Congress and the Moslem parties. And on the British side, the atti- tude of “we mean to hold our own” has to be abandoned. ieee ‘HE All-India Congress repre- - sents an overwhelming major- ity of the Indian masses. Even the foes of the organization admit that. The Congress party embraces peo- ple of every caste, class, creed and religion, The extent of the power of the Congress can be ascertained from the fact that in the last elec- tions held in 1987 two out of every three Indian voters voted for the Congress, and the Congress held power in eight of the 11 Indian provinces. It has four million dues-paying members and another three million members who cannot afford to pay their dues. In addition to this, the Congress draws great support from dozens of fraternal organizations, representing Hindus, Moslems, Sikhs, Christians and untouchables, etc. ‘The present president of the Con- Gives you that you'll enjoy to * COAST BREWERIES LTD. “extra” flavor the last drop. VANCOUVER ~ NEW WESTMINSTER ~ VICTORIA This advertisement is not published or displayed by the Liquor Control Board or by the Government of British Columbia. _ DARSHAN SINGH SANGHA Recording Secretary, IWA-C1O Local 1-118 gress is an orthodox Moslem. The program of the Congress calls for complete independence from British rule. It ‘stands for drastic revolutionary changes in the political, social and economic organization of the country, with the institution of a. democratic re- public, which will democratically extend and protect equal rights of national minorities, However, at the present time, the Congress has expressed its sin- cere desire to reach a wartime com- promise agreement with the Bri- tish Government, and is ready to “put aside for the present all ques- tions about the future,” in order to defeat world fascism. ecw ae HE next tion in India League. This body claims to speak for the ninety-odd million Moslems of India. But this claim is far from the truth, The Moslem League stands for the partition of India into separate Hindu and Moslem states on a religious basis, which is entirely impractical from territorial, ling- uistic and cultural points of view. On the surface this attitude of the Moslem League is the main obstacle MALASPINA GARAGE (Opposite Malaspina Hotel) important organiza- is the Moslem Nanaimo, B.C. Fleet of 10 New 1941 Chev. U-Drives¢ Reasonable Rates PROMPT SERVICE; in the path of Congress-League co-operation. The numerical strength of the Moslem League cannot be ascer- tained due to the lack of any pub- lished figures. But in the last general elections in 1937 the League Rolled 320,772 votes, out of the total of 7,319,445 Moslem votes, which means that the League polled no more than 4.6 ped cent of the total Moslem vote. To let such a small minority of the Moslem voters (820,772 in all) hinder the political development of India and thus paralyze the Whole war effort is tantamount to imposing a dictatorship of this minority within a minority upon the 390 million people of the coun- try. In addition, there are several other Moslem organizations which repudiate the program of the League and work closely with the National Congress. : Among these are the Independent Moslems of India; the Jumiat Ul Ulema with a membership of over 200,000; the Momins embracing forty million -Moslems, and lastly the entire sect of the Shaihs, who constitute 20 per cent of the entire Moslem population. Every one of the above organiza- tions is totally opposed to the Mos- lem League. ‘ baie: HE feud between Hindus and Moslems is more ecomonic than religious. It is to be noted that in the feudal sét-up of the country, where the landlord is Hindu the peasants are mostly Moslem, and vice versa. Thus the antagonism has more of a class than a religious character. But among the backward strata of the people this hostility is easily channelized by reactionary ele- ments into “holy crusades” of re- ligious hostility, The Moslem League is the spokesman for the! Moslem landlords. Fundamentally the problems of the impoverished Indian masses are the same, for the workers and peasants, Hindus and Moslems alike. They have already found a common platform in their common economic interests, in such organ- izations as the Peasant Leagues, the trade unions and, above all, the National Congress. Therefore, it is no exaggeration to state that a united national Loggers, Shipyard Workers, Lab- orers, meet your friends at the REX CAFE Ltd. Where All Union People Eat HOME OF TASTY MEALS Union House _J. Mirras, Mgr. 6 EAST HASTINGS PAc. 6741 front against fascism can be form- ed of all the democratic parties. ‘The whole Indian Labor move- ment is already working desper- ately to form such a national front. Men like Mr. Rajgopala- chariar are eager to weld such unity in India. But the uncompro- mising attitude of the Indian Of- fice in London remains the main stumbling block in the formation © fany such Indian anti-fascist fighuing front. ee e UTthere remains also another essential change to be made, ie, the abandonment by Britain of the old colonial policy. There are certain people in Bri- tain, in high places, who would rather see India conquered by Ja- pan than share power with the Indian people. They are utilizing the present opportune time to crush the Indian National movement rather than mobilize the Indian People for the war against the Axis, ‘These gentlemen are harbingers of super-Munich in the East in case of any military defeats. The democratic forces of the world must find a way to mobilize the tremendous power of India. It may still be not too late to find a compromise agreement. The minimum requirements of any such solution would be the immediate formation of an interim National Government in India. ‘Through’ the mediation of the United Nations, and through the release of the Indian people's lead- ers and the formation of a Pro- visional National Govehrnment, Inda ma ystill play a great and honorable role in the defeat of the fascist powers. But, the time to act iy NOW! Church Lauds CIO Program BOSTON—Praising the “CIO's extraordinary service in bringing economic jjustice to the workers of the nation,” the Methodist Church of the Boston Area sent warm greetings to the 5th CIO convention here. Signed by G. Bromley Oxnam, the message declared: “Tt is to be hoped that when at last this war is won, men of all faiths may unite with great or ganizations such as your own to the end that the liberty we have preserved and the equality we in- tend to achieve may enable us to move to fraternity.” UNION BARGAINING SHOULD BE MADE LAW