845.00/1877: Telegram
The Consul at Madras (Bower) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:20 p.m.]
27. From Phillips. Referring to my telegram of March 11th from Bombay,33 it now appears that the resolution in question was forwarded to the Viceroy on the 15th instant with an accompanying letter signed by Sapru34 saying that should the Viceroy care to discuss the substance of the resolution a delegation of four would proceed to Delhi at once. Rajagopalachari told me today that no reply has yet been received from Delhi but is expected in a day or two. He himself does not seem hopeful that it will be favorable.
His idea is that if negotiations with Gandhi could be reopened and if the British Government would be willing to begin again where the Cripps’ proposals broke off a preliminary agreement could be arrived at for the duration of the war.
Here in Madras, as elsewhere, the general view among the Indians seems to be that the British should make a new effort to find a solution and that if this proves to be sufficiently convincing of their good faith the opposing political parties would find a way to reach a compromise. [Phillips.]