845.00/1899: Telegram
Mr. William Phillips, Personal Representative of President Roosevelt in India, to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:48 p.m.]
256. In a long written reply, Viceroy yesterday rejected leaders’ request for interview with Gandhi (reference my 254, April 1, 7 p.m.). Refusal was based on grounds that (1) Gandhi has not repudiated Congress’ resolution of August last, (2) has not condemned “those incitements to violence which are represented by his references to open rebellion,” et cetera, and (3) has given no assurances for future satisfactory to Government. Viceroy also regretted that recent conference of leaders in Bombay did not include representatives of Muslim League, depressed classes, Hindu Mahasabha and Indian States (reference my telegrams of March 11 from Bombay and March 19 from Madras.)38
With regard to the three grounds of refusal mentioned above, it was for the very purpose of getting Gandhi’s reaction to the happenings of recent months that leaders requested an interview with him. In connection with the nonrepresentative character of the Bombay Conference, leaders who attended the meeting did so not for the purpose of negotiating a settlement but only to request facilities for ascertaining Gandhi’s present position which, if satisfactory, would have then opened the way to negotiations between all parties including British.
Viceroy’s present frame of mind appears to preclude any possibility of a settlement. The continued refusal to allow mediators access to Gandhi leaves one with the suspicion that authorities have no desire to see deadlock ended.