845.00/1901: Telegram
Mr. William Phillips, Personal Representative of President Roosevelt in India, to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:15 p.m.]
262. My visits to the provinces of Bombay and Madras and to the states of Hyderabad, Travancore, and Mysore have strengthened the impression previously gained in Delhi that anti-British sentiment is on the increase.38a In the states particularly in Travancore and Mysore where there are unusual opportunities for industrial development this sentiment arises more from what is believed to be an unsympathetic feeling on the part of the British to the development of state enterprises which might compete with British industry than to national political discontent.
I am impressed by the progress already made in these states which have been comparatively free of political warfare. Mysore has far the highest percentage of literacy in the whole of India. Travancore and Hyderabad though still backward in this respect are energetically trying to raise their percentage. All three states are examples of advanced socialism under autocratic rulers.
[Page 212]Politically the general opinion in Indian circles seemed to be that the British should make a new effort to break the present deadlock and with this end in view the following suggestions were made to me:
- (1)
- A declaration by the King Emperor of readiness to grant commonwealth status at an appropriate time after the war and meanwhile to constitute a provisional national government;
- (2)
- Viceroy should either (a) invite a prominent Indian preferably a political leader to form a provisional coalition government representing the various political parties or (b) he himself appoint such a government;
- (3)
- Power should be transferred to such a provisional government Viceroy retaining in his hands and in those of his military advisers such questions of defense organization and military administration as are of extra Indian interest, that is, of importance to the United Nations in the conduct of the war;
- (4)
- Similar provisional coalition procedure is recommended for the provinces;
- (5)
- The states prefer to remain aloof until satisfied of stability at the center.
It is of interest in this connection that although the states have their separate entities guaranteed by treaty with the British Government nevertheless some of their leaders expressed to me their hopes for a united self-governing India with which the states could associate.
As Department can readily see any such program requires the support of Congress leaders all of whom are now in jail. Please refer to my 257 of yesterday’s date.
- In a letter which Ambassador Phillips wrote to President Roosevelt on April 7 describing in some detail his trip to the south of India he wrote: “In conclusion, may I repeat, that there is everywhere a feeling of frustration, discouragement, and helplessness. America is still looked upon as the one and only hope, and that our Government should use its good offices to bring the opposing forces together, in the interests of India and of the United Nations.”↩