DR. AMBEDKAR’S PLAN . . . . . . . . . CRITICISED 325
But Mr. Amery thinks that there he can stop. Apart from the imputation which is attributed to him that he is only using the disagreement among Indian political parties as an excuse for with-holding the progress of India, it seems to me he entirely falls to understand his responsibilities. The British Government has not merely the right to call upon Indians to produce an agreed solution, but it has got the duty to settle the difference if Indians are not able to settle it themselves. The duty is cast upon the British Government by reason of the fact that the British Government denies to the Indian people one important final, and often the only means, of settling a constitutional deadlock. That means is no other than the means of war. Some will be shocked at this. But let no one forget that the English Revolution the French Revolution and the American Civil War are all instances when constitutional deadlocks had to be solved by war. The employment of this means, the British Government to the good of all interdicts. This means it must step in to decide a dispute which either by the recalcitrance or obstinacy of a party cannot be settled.
That being the case, the British Government cannot throw the responsibility of settting the constitutional difference on Indian shoulders as a final escape. It must recognise its ultimate responsibility in this matter. That being my view. I think it is possible for the British Government to make a declaration on the following lines:—
(1) That, it is proposed to raise India to the status of a dominion wihtin three years from the date of peace.
(2) That, for the speedy consummation of that end the elements in the national life of India will be required to produce and agreed solution of their constitutional difference within one year from the date of the signing of the armistice.
(3) That, failing agreement, the British Government would submit the dispute to an international tribunal for decision.
(4) That, when such a decision is given, the British Government shall undertake to give effect to it as part of the dominion constitution for India.
Such a declaration must satisfy all reasonable people. As far I am unable to see, it meets Mr. Jinnah’s point of view and the point