South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 04 April 1942

India: Why Now?

The fanfare accompanying the offer of Dominion self-government to India is part of a gallant attempt to carry off a rather ridiculous situation. There has not for years been any serious political opposition in this country to the grant of self-government to India. All parties have willed the end; Indians alone can will the means. The British elector desires nothing better than universal self-government throughout the Commonwealth.

Nothing prevents it but the dissensions of the clans and creeds who inhabit the lands we originally conquered and exploited; lands which we have also developed, civilised, and protected. “Behold how good and joyful a thing it is, brethren to dwell together in unity!”

In India as in Ireland we desire just that; that these people shall achieve unity, and through unity, autonomy, preferably under the British flag. We are now defending to the death territories which we have not been able to give away because the heirs are not politically ripe for inheritance. We are raising this issue in India now, at this most unpropitious moment, very largely in response to political clamour at home, based on a theory that India will be roused to meet the invader if we present this post-dated cheque for self-government, in a way that would not otherwise be possible. It is doubtful whether Indians can unite sufficiently even to examine the British offer, but if they seize it with both hands and with one consent it is difficult to see how, at this late date, a mere political gesture can revolutionise the military situation.

When the test comes the fate of India will depend on the power of the British to organise, lead, and sustain the defence, with the support of those elements of Indian society which have always been loyal to the British connection. The grant of self-government is a constitutional act founded on political wisdom, it is wise at all; as a piece of strategy it is a dangerous and untimely addition to the confusion and discord into which the Far East has been thrown by the Japanese offensive Indian self-government yesterday or to-morrow “there would have been a time for such a word.”

To-day we have sterner business in hand, and on the issue of it will depend the whole future and its warring races, religions and castes.