Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, General; the British Commonwealth; the Far East, Volume I

845.01/231

The British Embassy to the Department of State²²

[Washington, August 7, 1942.]

Message for the President From Mr. Attlee²³

My colleagues and I would have wished that you should have known in advance the Government of India’s decision, only communicated to us at the last moment, to publish on August 5th the documents relating to the Congress Party Working Committee’s discussions on Congress Party’s resolution of May 1st. These papers, with their damaging revelations of the defeatist outlook of the Congress Party leaders and particularly of Gandhi, had been in Government of India’s hands for some time but they forbore from disclosing them or from placing any restraint upon Congress leaders in hope that counsels of moderation and especially the opinions expressed in the United States might avert any extreme decision. Unfortunately this hope has gradually diminished and after much searching of heart the Government of India decided almost at the last moment on publication which they felt might help to check waverers in the Party by showing up its leaders in their true light.

2. In considering now how best to deal with the situation created by the Congress Party’s threat of a mass-movement to enforce their demand for a British withdrawal, Government of India have been guided by available indications of the extent to which movement may interfere or be intended to interfere with conduct of the war on Indian soil. The indications are unfortunately grave. More than one leader has threatened that movement would be short and swift, and the declared intention of Congress is to throw into it all non-violent strength accumulated in the past twenty years. Detailed information has been derived from a circular issued locally by the Andhra provincial Congress Committee in Madras indicating that programme is designed to effect pressure on Government officers to resign, organization of labour strikes, interference with railway transport (though without danger to life) and with telegraphs and telephones and picketing of troops. The crippling effect on the war effort of such activities carried out on a widespread scale is manifest.

3. For these reasons Government of India with approval of His Majesty’s Government have decided that most vigorous steps must be taken to suppress the movement at the outset. It is noteworthy that this is a decision of Governor General in Council and that this Council is now comprised of eleven prominent non-official Indians and, counting the Viceroy himself and the Commander-in-Chief, only five Europeans, one of whom is at present out of India.

4. It is the intention of the Government of India, as soon as the All-India Congress Committee pass or endorse a resolution containing threat of mass civil disobedience, promptly to order the detention of leaders, that is, of Gandhi and members of the Working Committee under the Defence of India Rules and it is possible that the more prominent of them will be deported from India. The Working Committee, the All-India Congress Committee and each provincial Committee, but not the Indian National Congress Party as a whole, will be declared to be unlawful associations, their offices and funds seized, and all individuals arrested who are considered competent and likely to attempt to organize and launch a mass movement. The main object of this action will be to render the movement abortive by removing and detaining its leaders. All possible precautionary measures will be taken in consultation where necessary with military authorities to deal with danger of widespread demonstrations and disorders. If hope of paralysing movement at outset by above methods should not succeed it will be necessary to introduce stronger measures against Congress Party as a whole. These intentions are of course strictly secret for the time being.

5. His Majesty’s Government feel confident that you will share their view that no other choice is open to them than to restrain with whatever means may be necessary the activities of politicians who are bent on pursuing a course which His Majesty’s Government sincerely believe would not only hamper and frustrate the war effort of the United Nations but would shatter indefinitely all hope of peace and orderly political advance in India itself.²⁴

22. Apparently this copy was sent to the Secretary of State by the British Minister (Campbell) on August 7, 1942; the original was sent to the White House.
23. Clement Attlee, British Deputy Prime Minister.

24. On August 13, President Roosevelt sent the following memorandum to the Secretary of State: “This came in five days ago from Attlee in the absence of his chief.

    “Frankly, I think it is best not to reply to it.

    “What is your view? F. D. R.” For the Secretary of State’s reply, see his memorandum of August 15, p. 721.