LONDON: Viscount Wavell’s return to India is arousing considerable interest here, and the majority of British newspapers, welcoming his new move towards the ultimate aim of Indian self-government devote much space to speculation about the message Lord Wavell will bring to the people of India.

It is understood that Lord Wavell has had very frank talks with Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Secretary of State for India, and other members of Government this week, and he outlined the present position. An official statement on the new position, published simultaneously in London and New Delhi, is likely to follow shortly. The political correspondent of the ‘Daily Herald’, organ of Britain’s governing party, says that he understands that “the Viceroy is satisfied that the solution of the Indian problem is now regarded by the British Government as a matter of urgency …”.

[Meanwhile, as reported today from Poona,] The Congress Working Committee considered for two hours this morning [Sept 13] the question of whether the Congress should participate in the forthcoming general elections to the Central and Provincial Legislatures, in view of the fact that many Congressmen are still in prison and restrictions and bans on meetings and other demonstrations are still continuing.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2020