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Published 21 Mar, 2020 06:50am

From The Past Pages Of Dawn: 1945: Seventy-five years ago: Transfer of power

LONDON: The London Times in a leader today [March 20] summarises the considerable correspondence which has appeared in that paper lately since the leader of the Indian Delegation to the Commonwealth Relations Conference Sir Mohammed Zafrullah Khan suggested that Britain should declare herself willing to execute any constitutional settlement that might be agreed in India within one year from the end of the Japanese war.

His proviso was that if no such settlement were forthcoming, Britain would assume the responsibility of framing a provisional constitution of Dominion Status. This would remain valid until modified by India herself. On the basis of the correspondence in its columns the Times [says]: Britain must bear the responsibility of taking such action as may be necessary to secure effective execution of her declared policy towards India; (2) Present reliance on the Cripps Offer in “take it or leave it” spirit no longer suffices. The Times comments: This is in fact “fraught with peril to Indo-British co-operation both during and after the war”.

[Meanwhile as reported from Leeds, William Umpleby (38), a British Medical Corps Private was convicted today [March 19] for the mercy killing of his invalid wife, Lilly (42) because “she asked me to do it”…

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2020

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