740.0011 European War 1939/16961: Telegram
The Commissioner in India (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 29—1:32 p.m.]
26. Reference Department’s No. 16, November 25, 8 p.m. The resolution referred to was passed by the Council of State on November 18th by a vote of 10 to 6 with Government remaining neutral and the Government leader, Sir Akbar Hydari, stating that in any case the report of the debate would be transmitted to His Majesty’s Government. One member who opposed the resolution declared that it was “the height of hypocrisy” to say that Mr. Churchill’s statement would adversely affect India’s war effort. The “considerable prominence” which the American press gave to the passage of this resolution has most certainly not been reflected by any section of the Indian press and editorial comment has been notably lacking.
Although as yet it is much too early to make a prophecy as to the ultimate success of the recent action whereby the Province of Orissa has formed a Ministry emphasizing its purpose to “contribute to the war effort”, it would be more profitable to feature such an occurrence than to give prominence to a resolution considered in India as of little significance by journalists and public as well.
It is true the Atlantic Charter has been adversely commented on editorially by many sections of the press in India and that from time to time President Roosevelt’s name has been drawn in (reference my despatch No. 10 of November 7th27) but this appears to me to be inconsequential as Mr. Roosevelt’s popularity and press in India are almost universally excellent from which it is reasonable to deduce that unfavorable criticism of the President is for the purpose of (1) keeping prominently before the world India’s position and (2) to try to [Page 189] force from Mr. Roosevelt some sort of statement which might be construed as repudiation of the Prime Minister’s statement of the inapplicability to India of the Atlantic Charter. I believe it would be a grave error to give any great weight or reply to such comment which after all is of infrequent occurrence (reference also in this connection my despatch No. 5 of October 30, and No. 207, Calcutta, May 22, 194128).
If an effort is made to confine under one heading that which is prejudicial to India’s war effort it would be well not to lose sight of the fact that India does not consider herself as fighting in this war for India’s interests as a nation and feels that she is being called upon to defend an Empire in which she is not received as an equal partner.
Despite the prominence given to it by the American press I regard the resolution of November 18 as just another resolution and without significance.
I shall regard as irrelevant the closing paragraph of the Department’s cable under reference but if I am at variance with the Department by doing this I shall appreciate a further elaboration of the Department’s view by air mail.