845.01/231
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The British Minister, Sir Ronald Campbell, called at his request and handed me a document (copy attached)27 relative to the situation in India, which is self-explanatory. I expressed my appreciation and said that I would bring it to the attention of my associates, and that, of course, I myself would give it special attention.
I specifically and rather emphatically inquired of the Minister whether his Government had prepared a succinct statement of the essential conditions and preparations that would be necessary to enable India to set up the complete plans and structure of a free and independent government, if independence should be granted at once to India by Great Britain, and also showing equally clearly the difficulties the Indians would experience in an attempt immediately to establish and carry into successful operation a structure of entirely independent government, if not the impossibility of their doing so. The Minister said he was not aware of any such statement except the statements made by the Cripps mission. I said that I did not recall whether such a comprehensive statement had been prepared by the British, together [Page 707] with their formula pertaining to ultimate independence, if any, including a reference to the attitude of encouragement and aid on the part of the British Government while preparations and qualifications were thus being effected. I said I was not speaking officially in any sense, but merely asking these questions individually. I concluded by saying that I was speaking in strict confidence and off the record, and that the President would speak for this Government, if and when anything is to be said. The Minister seemed very much interested in the point I had raised and especially its psychological aspect, both in the Empire and in other parts of the world as well.
- Not printed.↩