Office of the Historian

845.00/1290: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Matthews) to the Secretary of State
London, February 26, 1942—7 p.m.
[Received February 26—5:45 p.m.]

919. Personal for the President from Harriman. As your cable number 843 of February 25, 12 midnight22 inquiring about India came in just before Gil’s23 departure he had no opportunity to deal with it.

I have seen the Prime Minister this morning. He told me of the status of the political discussions now going on in London and in India for immediate action and for the future. He showed every desire to keep you informed but thought it would be better to wait a day or two, expecting that the picture would then be clarified and more definite. It will be discussed at the Cabinet today and additional advice will be obtained from India. He intends to cable you himself, probably over the week-end.

In the meantime you may be interested to have the following information which he gave me.

1. Approximately 75% of the Indian troops and volunteers are Moslems. Of the balance less than half, or perhaps only 12% of the total are sympathetic with the Congress group.

The Moslem population exceeds 100 millions. The fighting people of India are from the northern provinces largely antagonistic to the Congress movement. The big populations of the low-lying center and south have not the vigor to fight anybody. The Prime Minister will not therefore take any political step which would alienate the Moslems.

2. There is ample manpower in India willing to fight. The problem is training and equipping.

3. He told me he had explained to you his appraisal of the background of the political situation in India while he was in Washington and therefore I will not attempt to repeat it.

4. It is not known whether it is the Japanese ultimate objective to attempt to drive north into China or west into India.

5. Just what happened at Singapore is still obscure.

6. Now that the political scene is quieted the Prime Minister is turning his energies to the new problems arising from the unexpected strength of the Japs.

  • [Harriman]
  • Matthews
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. John Gilbert Winant.↩