Transfer of power necessitated high-level reshuffle

LONDON, AUG 7: The British Government, probably within the next week, will announce the ministerial changes that have been rendered necessary by the transfer of power to India and Pakistan with effect from August 15. The India Office as such will cease to exist next week and with it the Office of the Secretary of State for India.

Defence Minister Albert Alexander said in reply to a parliamentary query that British troops won’t be available to intervene in case of internal disorders and would have no operational responsibility.

The changes are as follows:-

First: The Government will appoint a new Minister of State. Mr Arthur Henderson, now Under-Secretary of State for India and Burma, will act as the Commonwealth Relations Office’s link between India, Pakistan and Britain.

Second: Lord Listowel, now Secretary of State for India and Burma, will continue to act as Secretary of State for Burma only during the short interval before transfer of power to that country.

Third: Mr Henderson will carry out the duties of the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and will be in broad charge of the Commonwealth Office.

Mr Arthur G. Bottomley will also function from that office as Commonwealth Relations Under-Secretary.

Joint shipping policy

LONDON: Sir Raghavan Pillai, Secretary to the Commerce Department, Government of India, arrived here on August 5 from Geneva, after leading the Indian delegation in the International Trade Conference there. The purpose of his visit to London, it is understood, is to consult Mr Walchand Hirachand on the future shipping policy of India and Pakistan in relation to British shipping interests.

The London shipping conference last month, it will be remembered, proved to be abortive because the British shipping interests summarily rejected India’s aspirations in this matter and questioned the credentials of the Indian delegation, which was sponsored by the Indian Government.

The “United Press” has been informed that the Government of India fully approved of the statement issued at that time by the delegation and it was directed to proceed with its own shipping policy, even without the help of British shipping lines, if necessary.

In this connection, it is known that both India and Pakistan intend to pursue a joint policy. But, in view of the world shipping shortage and advisability of maintaining good relations with British concerns while carrying out their national policy, the Governments of India and Pakistan thought it necessary that their policy and the policies of the British shipping lines must be integrated. This appears to be the background of Sir Raghavan Pillai’s present visit to London.

Govts’ responsibility

LONDON: The Governments of India and Pakistan will be responsible for the maintenance of law and order in their respective territories, the Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Alexander, stated in a parliamentary reply yesterday.

British troops, he said, would not be available to intervene in case of internal disorders and would have no operational responsibility. Mr Joseph Binns (Labour) had asked what would be the role of the British forces which would remain in India during the next few months before they were finally withdrawn.

Future of delegations

LAKE SUCCESS (NEW YORK): The future of Indian delegations in the United Nations after Partition has created one of the most difficult behind-the-scenes problems among the high UN officials, it is learnt here.

The UN Secretariat is understood to be now working on two possible solutions: firstly, India will continue as a UN member, taking over the present Indian seat, while Pakistan will be expected to apply for admission as a new member; secondly, the present Indian membership may be declared void and both India and Pakistan obliged to apply for admission. It is understood that the British Government favours an entirely different approach to the problem which would give both India and Pakistan automatic membership in continuation of the present Indian representation. Objections to this are that it would create a precedent which might be followed in other nations where there are separate component parts and would automatically create two seats in place of one.

It is learned reliably that the United States Government has not yet made up its mind on this delicate question and is at present confining itself to obtaining information from British and Indian leaders.

The present tendency is for all interested parties to try to work out a solution agreeable to all in “corridor diplomacy” to avoid the danger of quarrels in the Security Council.

Firing in Calcutta

CALCUTTA: Two persons were killed and about a dozen injured when the military opened fire on a mob in Beliaghata area today. On receipt of information of a sudden recrudescence of violence in the area, a military detachment was rushed to the scene. Miscreants fired at the military, as a result of which one soldier was killed. The mob was, however, dispersed and the situation controlled after the military opened fire, killing two and injuring about a dozen.

Curfew has been extended in the city by the Police Commissioner for another week from August 8 to 15 in the jurisdictions of nine police stations.