Lord Wavell on India
If the Viceroy of India's first address to the Legislature at Delhi did not fulfil all the expectations cherished regarding it that was rather because the expectations were set too high than because of any shortcoming in the speech. Actually it was wise, firm, con- ciliatory and constructive. Lord Wavell is in no position to go beyond the Cripps offer, but he explicitly reaffirmed that offer and invited Indians to take the, first step in the right direction by proceeding to a preliminary examination of the constitutional problems of India, by an authoritative body of Indians ; till such a body has met, and reached agreement, the next siep must necessarily wait. Meanwhile, as an article on another page of this issue insists, and as Lord Wavell himself urged, a concentration of attention and effort on the economic tasks facing India,—the use of her great economic assets " not to increase the wealth of the few, but to raise the many from poverty to a decent standard of comfort"— may do something to put political issues in their right proportion. It is satisfactory to know that a committee of the Executive Council is giving its attention to such matters. On the urgent question of food-supplies and distribution the Viceroy made the important statement that food was an all-India problem,. which the Govern- ment was trying to organise on an all-India scale. This-is being done, and it is important that it continue to be done, on the basis of willing co-operation between the Central Government and the Provincial Governments most concerned. If that should not be forthcoming, emergency powers are at the disposal of the Central Government, and could in case of need be invoked.
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