(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/75
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COPY NO.
B C R E T.
C A B I N E T
16 ( 3 3 ) .
M e e t i n g o f the C a b i n e t t o "be h e l d in the
M i n i s t e r ' 8 Room, House of Commons, on
F r i d a y , March 1 0 t h , 1 9 3 3 a t
11.0 a.nu
Prime
9
AGENTJJM.
INDIAN CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS.
( R e f e r e n c e C a b i n e t 10 ( 3 3 ) , C o n c l u s i o n
3.)
Memorandum b y the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r I n d i a
c o v e r i n g d r a f t o f White P a p e r .
( C P . 49(33)
already c i r c u l a t e d ) .
s
Memorandum b y the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r I n d i a on
t h e d r a f t White P a p e r , and t h e p r o c e e d i n g s t h e r e o n
o f the C a b i n e t Committee on I n d i a .
( C P . 49,A.(33)
to be c i r c u l a t e d ) .
Note by the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r I n d i a , c o v e r i n g
a t e l e g r a m from t h e Government o f I n d i a r e g a r d i n g
the probable r e c e p t i o n o f the White Paper i n I n d i a .
( C P . 59(33)
already c i r c u l a t e d ) .
( S i g n e d ) M . P . A . HANKEYo
S e c r e t a r y to
2, Whi t e h a l 1 Garden s , S, W, 1,
March 9 t h , 1933,
9
the Cabinet^
COPY NO.
I E G R E T ,
C A B I N E
T
16 (33.)
CONCLUSIONS of a M e e t i n g of the Cabinet h e l d
i n t h e Prime M i n i s t e r ' s Room, House o f
Commons, S . W . 1 , on FRIDAY, March 1 0 t h ,
1933, a t 1 1 . 0 a.m.
PRESENT: The R i g h t Hon. S t a n l e y B a l d w i n , M . P . ,
Lord P r e s i d e n t o f the C o u n c i l .
( I n the
;The Right Hon.
I N e v i l l e Chamberlain, M . P . , .
I Chancellor o f the E x c h e q u e r .
jlfte Right Hon.
I The Viscount Sankey,
ft Lord C h a n c e l l o r .
G.B.E.,
Iche Right Hon.
I Sir Samuel H o a r e , B t . , G . B . E . ,
C M . G . . M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of
1 State f o r I n d i a .
The Right Hon.
Sir P h i l i p C u n l i f f e - L I s t e r ,
G.B.E.,M.C,M.P., Secretary
of S t a t e f o r t h e C o l o n i e s .
Chair).
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r John G i l m o u r , B t . , D . S . O . ,
M.P., S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r
Home A f f a i r s .
The R i g h t Hon.
The V i s c o u n t H a i l sham,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r War.
The R i g h t Hon.
J . H . Thomas, M . P . , S e c r e t a r y
o f S t a t e f o r Dominion A f f a i r s .
The Most Hon.
The Marquess of L o n d o n d e r r y ,
K . G . , M . V , 0 . , S e c r e t a r y of
State f o r A i r .
he Right HOn.
Sir Edward H i l t o n Young,
G.B.E.,D.S.O.,D.S.C.,M.P.,
Minister of H e a l t h .
The R i g h t Hon.
W a l t e r Runciman, M . P . ,
P r e s i d e n t o f the Board o f
Trade.
he Right Hon.
Sir Bolton E y r e s - M o n s e l l ,
G.B.E.,M.P., F i r s t Lord of
the A d m i r a l t y .
The R i g h t Hon.
Lord I r w i n , K . G . , G . C . S . I * ,
G . C . I . E . , P r e s i d e n t of t h e
Board o f E d u c a t i o n .
The Right Hon.
Sir Henry B e t t e r t o n , B t . ,
. C.B.E.,M.P., M i n i s t e r o f
Labour.
Major The R i g h t Hon.
W. Ormsby-Gore, M . P . ,
F i r s t Commissioner o f Works.
Colonel S i r M . P . A . Hankey, G . C . B . , G . C . M . G . ,
Secretary.
U
INDIA,
Rnstltutional
Reforms .
1.
The Cabinet had b e f o r e them t h e
Memoranda by the S e c r e t a r y
the subject
following
of State for
of I n d i a n C o n s t i t u t i o n a l
India
on
Reforms:­
C . P . - 4 9 ( 3 3 ) , c i r c u l a t i n g f o r the
a p p r o v a l of h i s c o l l e a g u e s t h e d r a f t
o f the White Paper which t h e G o v e r n ­
ment had undertaken t o p r e s e n t t o
P a r l i a m e n t , w i t h a v i e w . t o i t s exam­
i n a t i o n by a J o i n t S e l e c t Committee,
containing t h e i r proposals for Indian
C o n s t i t u t i o n a l Reform:
IfPrevi ous
I Reference:
I Cabinet 10
( 3 3 ) , Con­
elusion 3 . )
C.P.-49A ( 3 3 ) , c a l l i n g a t t e n t i o n to
c e r t a i n p o i n t s i n the above p r o p o s a l s
and s u g g e s t i n g a l t e r a t i o n s f o l l o w i n g
a d e t a i l e d e x a m i n a t i o n by the Cabinet
Committee on I n d i a :
C P , - 5 9 (33). circulating for
information of his colleagues
t e l e g r a m from t h e Government
I n d i a g i v i n g an a p p r e c i a t i o n
the p r o b a b l e r e c e p t i o n o f t h e
Paper i n I n d i a .
the
a
of
of
White
THE SECRETARY OP STA E FOR INDIA, s a i d t h a t he
m
would g i v e the Cabinet
a picture
Committee had been t r y i n g
o f what t h e Cabinet
t o do during t h e l a s t
few
He emphasised t h a t the White Paper was not a
E i l l , but r a t h e r a Terms o f R e f e r e n c e t o the proposed
Joint
S e l e c t Committee.
Necessarily,
therefore,
t h e r e w e r e a c e r t a i n number o f r a g g e d ends, and t h e r e
were p o s s i b i l i t i e s
Committee, i f
o f a l t e r a t i o n by the
found n e c e s s a r y .
Select
The p r o d u c t i o n
of
t h e s e p r o p o s a l s was a /remarkable a c h i e v e m e n t ,
and
had been one o f t h e most d i f f i c u l t
attempted
i n t h e way o f C o n s t i t u t i o n a l
tasks
development.
ever
The
diffi­
c u l t i e s had been enormous, owing t o t h e c o m p l e x i t y
of the problem.
He would not l i k e t o say t h a t
a ^a^iy^^od^scheme,
and he thought that
if
i t was
the
task
had been approached w i t h a c l e a n s h e e t a
different
and b e t t e r p l a n might have b e e n p r o d u c e d .
That,
h o w e v e r , had not been t h e c a s e ,
owing t o the
ments o f v a r i o u s Governments i n t h e p a s t .
t h i n k , however,
that, given thesa
commit­
He d i d
commitments and
all
t h e surrounding d i f f i c u l t i e s ,
difficult
i t would be v e r y
f o r anyone t o produce a b e t t e r
scheme.
He then turned t o some o f t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s .
first
o f t h e s e was the f a c t
a u n i t a r y Government.
t h a t we were breaking up
We were b r i n g i n g i n t o
a F e d e r a t i o n composed o f v e r y
including
Unlike
the N a t i v e
incongruous
i n the c o m p l e x i t y
providing safeguards
interests
in India
units,
i n t h e B r i t i s h Empire, we
were not b u i l d i n g up from e x i s t i n g
for
existence
S t a t e s and t h e P r o v i n c e s ,
other Federations
factor
The
elements ,
Another
o f the t a s k was t h e
for
today.
t h e tremendous
necessity
British
T h a t , p e r h a p s , was t h e
main cause of c o m p l i c a t i o n .
Y e t another
difficulty
was t h a t t h e comments o f t h e Government o f I n d i a had
t o be sought on e v e r y p o i n t t h a t a r o s e , and h e r e
m a t t e r was c o m p l i c a t e d by t h e d i f f e r e n c e s
the
that/existed
* M t e U i the Government o f I n d i a and in-, t h e P r o v i n c e s .
Those c o n s i d e r a t i o n s
difficulties
would i n d i c a t e some o f
t h a t had had t o be
The S e c r e t a r y
of
State
would be open t o a t t a c k s
first,
faced.
admitted, t h a t t h e scheme
from two p o i n t s
of
from t h e I n d i a n s , who would say t h a t
C o n s t i t u t i o n was t i e d up t o o much by t h e
and, s e c o n d , by c r i t i c s
the safeguards
view:
the
safeguards,
h e r e , who would m a i n t a i n
were inadequate, w h i l e
other
would say t h a t t h e whole scheme was t o o
to work.
the
that
critics
complicated
However, he c o u l d n o t s e e how a b e t t e r
scheme could be p r o d u c e d ,
The p l a n c o v e r e d the w h o l e f i e l d ,
C e n t r a l Government
and t h e P r o v i n c e s ,
could, not come i n t o o p e r a t i o n
in point
of
the matter
namely,
time, nevertheless
q^ritre
Even i f
the
they
simultaneously
the more he thought
over the more h e r e a l i s e d t h a t t h e s e , two
a s p e c t s were i n t e r d e p e n d e n t
anS c o u l d not b e ^ s e p a r a t e d .
Coming t o d e t a i l s , t h e S e c r e t a r y
of State
said
t h a t t h e scheme was c o n d i t i o n a l on an A l l - I n d i a
Federation,
on which a l l
the p r o p o s a l s
depended.
I t would not come i n t o o p e r a t i o n unless a
number o f the important
sufficient
Indian States acceded.
was c o n s t a n t l y b e i n g p r e s s e d / t o say t h a t i f
Princes
r-e^BS^d thisAand made i t
into effect
conditions
India a l o n e .
u^k^L
He had
c l e a r that the
bringing
o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n depended upon t h e
b e i n g made e f f e c t i v e ,
than h a l f
being f i l l e d ,
that is
to say,
the seats a v a i l a b l e t o the
and not l e s s than h a l f t h e
o f the States r e p r e s e n t e d .
rigid
the
d i d not come i n we should g i v e t h e same kind
of Constitution to British
less
He
not
States
population
That was r a t h e r a more
s t i p u l a t i o n than appeared a t f i r s t
sight,
s i n c e some of t h e S t a t e s were governed by m i n o r s ,
I L
This
test,
j
.
therefore,
was
as good a w o r k i n g t e s t as was l i k e l y
T h i s was an a s p e c t
.
t o be
on t h e S e l e c t
-
.
found.
anticipated
Committee.
A n o t h e r s a f e g u a r d was t h a t t h e scheme would only
come i n t o o p e r a t i o n a f t e r
would become e f f e c t i v e
both Houses o f
a Proclamation,
which
only a f t e r a R e s o l u t i o n by
Parliament,
At the head o f the Government would b e the
G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l , who would have g r e a t
would .be t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a l
* " ei?arrtmeTE%s .
-3­
powers.
He
Head^ o f t h e Government
The
^
probably
of the q u e s t i o n t h a t he
would be much d i s c u s s e d
/-
.
Governor-General
^
i
would have complete c o n t r o l
of t h e r e s e r v e d
ments, namely, F o r e i g n A f f a i r s
would be no d i v i d e d c o n t r o l
responsibility
;
m*l
Defence/.
Apart
There
of t h e Army, and t h e
o f the G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l
remained, i n t a c t .
Depart­
in t h i s
from t h e r e s e r v e d
matter
Departments
t h e r e was a wide f i e l d w i t h i n which the G o v e r n o r G e n e r a l would have s p e c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s ,
he was e n t i t l e d t o
i n t e r v e n e at h i s
order t o safeguard c e r t a i n v i t a l
example,
in finance,
discretion
interests;
and i n the m a t t e r o f
I n both t h e s e f i e l d s
been a c c e p t e d by the C h a n c e l l o r
and by t h e P r e s i d e n t
carrying
out h i s
duties
the p r o p o s a l s had
of
the
Exchequer
like
subject
t o make.
For
t h e G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l had
power t o i s s u e Ordinances
f o r a? l o n g as he
and he a l s o had t h e power o f making
Acts —
for
difficult
o f the Board o f T r a d e ,
t o any remarks which they might
in
commercial
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , which were two o f t h e most
subjects .
i n which
liked,
Governor-General^
powers which he d i d not p o s s e s s t o d a y .
could a l s o c o n t r o l the conduct o f
business
He
Parliamentary
so as t o a i d him i n h i s t a s k .
The G o v e r n o r -
G e n e r a l would have t h e r i g h t , when he so d e s i r e d ,
p r e s i d e a t the C a b i n e t and t o g e t a c c e s s
Papers he r e q u i r e d .
to
t o any
He c o u l d add c h a r g e s
to
the
Budget.
Referring
vis-a-vis
to the Governor-General's
the F e d e r a l M i n i s t e r s ,
powers
the Secretary
S t a t e r e c a l l e d t h a t , though t h e r e was much t a l k
responsibility
bility
at the
of Ministers
from t h e c o l l e c t i v e
here,
centre,
i n f a c t the
i n I n d i a would d i f f e r
responsibilities
There would be two kinds
of
of
of
responsi­
considerably
o f the Cabinet
Ministers,
0ne-third
oome from t h e S t a t e s , and i t
rather
than t o the L e g i s l a t u r e t h a t
SkJC
was
thes.v
jjaJteaaaAe ,
S 4 * ^ s - would l o o k f o r HWJwaJMiAadjafi t h e i r
I n a d d i t i o n , t h e G-overnor-General would have
to
see t h a t m i n o r i t i e s were r e p r e s e n t ed^ b f i o i-Miinao t o r ^
*\nOinlTi,,,fmOV, ran.J,ntr^wir""-*-f^hnj-n
j
n
t
nrnnt.fi,
would be two o r t h r e e M i n i s t e r s , namely,
concerned
There
those
i n t h e r e s e r v e d D e p a r t m e n t s , who,
though n o r m a l l y s i t t i n g w i t h t h e
responsible
M i n i s t e r s , would not t h e m s e l v e s be r e s p o n s i b l e
t h e F e d e r a l L e g i s l a t u r e , b u t , through
General,
to the Secretary
i*v^L0*^efen,
to
theGovernor-
o f St a t e . andJ^ta*s*^pa
The F e d e r a l L e g i s l a t u r e would c o n s i s t o f
Chambers w i t h e q u a l powers.
p r o v i s i o n was made f o r
plan he p a r t i c u l a r l y
a joint
liked,
i n the c i r c u m s t a n c e s .
equal powers to
If
they
came i n t o
session.
two
collision
I t was not a
but he c o u l d not see a b e t t e r
In c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the g i v i n g
of
the two Chambers i t must be remembered
that
the p o s i t i o n was not t h e same i n I n d i a as i t was h e r e . One
reason was t h a t the I n d i a n S t a t e s e x p e c t e d to be i n a
stronger p o s i t i o n
in the Second Chamber where
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n was h i g h e r ,
special responsibility.
f o r e q u a l powers
any p a r t i c u l a r
the o t h e r .
their
so t h a t t h i s Chamber would have a
That was why the P r i n c e s had p r e s s e d
both Chambers.
He h i m s e l f d i d not
r e a s o n f o r making one Chamber s t r o n g e r
He thought t h e r e was no g r e a t r i s k o f
majority.
The S t a t e s would have t h i r t y per
representation
i n the l o w e r
and f o r t y
per
see
than
a Congress
cent
cent i n the upper
House, The Moslems would have about t h i r t y per cent in
That would make i t
at the C e n t r e ,
difficult
for
Congress t o g e t ase-s^e^aaAfe4*ii­
In a d d i t i o n to t h a t
that' t h e Hindu v o t e would be s p l i t
of a l a n d s l i d e
States
majority
t o the l e f t
-
it
had t o be remembered
t o some e x t e n t .
both in B r i t i s h
i t would seem/impossible
in the L e g i s l a t u r e .
each.
for
Short
I n d i a and the
Gongress t o g e t a
He t h o u g h t , t h e r e f o r e ,
adequate s a f e g u a r d s had b e e n p r o v i d e d a g a i n s t
that
Congress
g e t t i n g the upper hand, a p o i n t which had been v e r y much
s t r e s s e d by t h e
critics
t o the scheme.
in some of t h e P r o v i n c e s but not at the
Turning t o the F r a n c h i s e ,
recalled
This might happen
Centre.
the S e c r e t a r y
of
t h e r e had been -&&e&£m&&&3 a t t a c k s on the
scheme owing t o t h e ^ e x t e n s i o n o f t h e f r a n c h i s e .
The
State
Government
critics
had confused
the proposals f o r the P r o v i n c e s w i t h those
the C e n t r e ,
The b i g
increase
6.
for
i n t h e f r a n c h i s e had o n l y been
in the P r o v i n c e s .
In the C e n t r e ,
would he n o t h i n g l i k e
critics
alleged.
indirect
so g r e a t and not at a l l what
Most r e l u c t a n t l y
to avoid i n d i r e c t
that
though c o n s i d e r a b l e ,
e l e c t i o n t o the^ C e n t r e ,
or Hindus o r ,
the
he had been d r i v e n
e l e c t i o n had no f r i e n d s
among o f f i c i a l s
it
He had found
in India,
especially,
whether
Moslems, who
thought t h a t they would be b e a t e n by t h e c l e v e r e r
Hindus
in the e v e n t o f
subject
indirect
also would be r a i s e d
it
a mistake t o
election.
in the S e l e c t Committee,
I t brought
the a g r i c u l t u r a l
classes, a l l
anxious to g e t
as he thought t h e y were a s t a b i l i s i n g
the P r o v i n c e s
The Government o f
He had been
element from our
India,
however,
and
all
They s a i d t h a t i t would i n v o l v e
to i n c l u d e the w i v e s o f v o t e r s .
much e n q u i r y w i t h i n f a m i l i e s
if
i t were
T h i s would i n v o l v e
t o be a c c e p t e d .
i t had been found n e c e s s a r y t o amend the
to
too
desired
too
Consequently,
recommendations
Committee i n t h i s r e s p e c t and the
would only be extended t o w i v e s on a p p l i c a t i o n .
Select
the
o f women i n c l u d e d
g r e a t a l o a d on the machine, p a r t i c u l a r l y
was a p o i n t
the
a d v i s e d t h a t ^ t t o e / e x t e n s i o n o f the f r a n c h i s e
women would n o t work.
o f the L o t h i a n
depressed
c r i t i c i s m of
to women v o t e r s .
a s u b s t a n t i a l number :
point of view.
franchise
t o t h e domination o f
T h e r e had been s p e c i a l
extension of the franchise
i n t o the
franchise
community, l a b o u r e r s ,
o f whom were h o s t i l e
Caste Hindus/;
He thought
suggest t h a t t h e e x t e n s i o n o f the
was t o our d i s a d v a n t a g e .
members of
Ho doubt t h i s
franchise
That
t h a t would no doubt be d i s c u s s e d by t h e
again
Joint
Committee,
Turning t o the powers o f
the S e c r e t a r y
of
State said that
the F e d e r a l
t h e s e were s e t out
l e n g t h in the c l a u s e s and i n Appendix V I ,
the g r e a t
changes i n v o l v e d
situation in I n d i a .
at
He emphasised
as compared w i t h the
At the p r e s e n t
7.
Legislature,
present
time the powers o f
the
Federal L e g i s l a t u r e
I t was a u n i t a r y
In d e v i s i n g
pervaded e v e r y
field
of Indian
system which could do a n y t h i n g
the p r e s e n t
anywhere.
scheme t h e range o f a c t i o n o f
F e d e r a l Government and o f
the F e d e r a l L e g i s l a t u r e
had been g i v e n t o the P r o v i n c e s .
He thought
advantage from our p o i n t o f view
More powers
t h i s was an
as we s u b s t i t u t e d f o r
Government t h a t could do harm everywhere
pphere was s t r i c t l y
ese/whose
course,
a need f o r
a T r i b u n a l 1rp
q u e s t i o n s and t h i s need was met by
provision of a Federal
Round Table
a
limited.
There w a s , o f
decide Federal
the
had
d e l i b e r a t e l y been l i m i t e d t o a r e s t r i c t e d f i e l d .
We&&&*3&
life.
Court.
At the l a s t
session of
Conference t h e v i e w had e v e n t u a l l y
a f t e r much d i s c u s s i o n ,
the
the
prevailed,
t h a t the B r i t i s h Government
should
. appoint the Judges, not so much because the I n d i a n s l i k e d u s ,
but because they were so s u s p i c i o u s o f one a n o t h e r .
t h e r e was a c l a u s e p r o v i d i n g
that
i n the e v e n t o f
Finally,
a "breakdown
o f t h e Government the G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l could take f u l l
and r e v e r t
to the present p o s i t i o n .
powers
Such powers had been
shown t o be u s e f u l by what had o c c u r r e d
in recent times
in
Germany,
Referring
drew a t t e n t i o n
to the P r o v i n c e s ,
to the f a c t
two new P r o v i n c e s ,
name exclude Aden,
the Secretary
that the l i s t
of
State
i n c l u d e d Burma^-and
namely Sind and O r i s s a and d i d n o t by
So f a r
as Burma was conlTarne^d^
J
. .
^JS^T$&
^ e ^ & s s ^ B e i w t e d not because i t was thought t h a t Burma would
not s e p a r a t e , but simply because the Burmans would not make
up t h e i r mind.
better to l e t
the scheme.
F o r the moment^
the
T&MS&£&%K&.,
i t was thought
q u e s t i o n simmer and to l e a v e Burma w i t h i n
He t h o u g h t ,
however,
t h a t almost i n e v i t a b l y
the
Burmans would d e c i d e to l e a v e the scheme i n which e v e n t "h^o
adjustments would have t o be made.
The r e f e r e n c e
a t the end o f t h e I n t r o d u c t i o n was t o be moved t o
t o Burma
a less
prominent p o s i t i o n .
Secretary
Referring
t o Sind and O r i s s a ,
o f S t a t e was s a t i s f i e d
c r e a t e t h e s e new P r o v i n c e s .
creation of
a Province of
the
t h a t i t was n e c e s s a r y
The Moslems r e g a r d e d
Sind as a t e s t
case.
to
the
I t was
-
true that
t h i s would be a d e f i c i e n c y '
would be t h e case o f Bombay i f
Province,
P r o v i n c e , but
that
Sind were l e f t w i t h i r j
that
O r i s s a was i n h a b i t e d by p e o p l e of a
race and would a l s o have t o be a. s e p a r a t e
Province.
Aden, t h e Cabinet would r e c a l l , w a s
from I n d i a by a r e c e n t d e c i s i o n .
different
t o be
The q u e s t i o n
separated
how i t
e-e**id be d e a l t w i t h i n the White Paper was only a m a t t e r
tactics.
There had been an u n d e r t a k i n g
that b e f o r e
of
Aden
was s e p a r a t e d from I n d i a t h e r e should be a d i s c u s s i o n i n the
Assembly and t h i s had not y e t
taken p l a c e . Consequently,
was not proposed t o say more than t h a t the q u e s t i o n o f
was under c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
intention
There was not the
Cabinet.
The p o s i t i o n o f Governors o f P r o v i n c e s was
the G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l ;
Governor's
for:
been d e c i d e d
t o the q u e s t i o n o f law and o r d e r ,
and not C e n t r a l Government s u b j e c t s .
He h i m s e l f
t h i s d e c i s i o n two
Ministers.
The
had
difficult
assumed the- t r a n s f e r
objected
subject.
q u e s t i o n s emerged;
o f law and o r d e r
so
Prom
one
to
He had n o t h i n g t o add i n t h i s r e s p e c t t o
9.
latter
had supported the l a t t e r
that law and o r d e r had become a P r o v i n c i a l
it
it
a f t e r much d i s c u s s i o n t h a t these should be
t o by the Moslems.
that
they
making Ordinances and
had been d e s i r e d by the Hindus, but was s t r o n g l y
was
to
Acts.
Reverting
Provincial
e.g.
similar'
that i s
say, t h e y were b e i n g g i v e n v e r y e x t e n d e d powers t h a t
d i d n o t now p o s s e s s ;
Aden
smallest
o f g o i n g back on t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e
i n the scheme t o t h a t o f
it
the
$£asai c o n s i d e r e d recommendation o f the
Simon
Commission which was t o the e f f e c t
it
would n o t he p o s s i b l e
t o have
autonomy w i t h o u t g i v i n g
responsibility
for
the
law and o r d e r .
To do
other­
i n terms and no
Government would do i t s work w i t h o u t
this responsibility.
a l s o had been k e p t
especially
Provincial
Province
w i s e would be a c o n t r a d i c t i o n
Provincial
that
The case o f the Moslems
carefully
desired P r o v i n c i a l
i n mind.
They
autonomy and no
Moslem l e a d e r would a g r e e - e , g .
i n the
Punjab
where i t was e x p e c t e d t h e Moslems would run t h e
Government v e r y w e l l - t o c a r r y on w i t h o u t
responsibility
for
law and o r d e r .
B e n g a l was t h e
possibility
/
hardesfycase s i n c e t h e r e was a
o f a Congress m a j o r i t y .
there
In that
Province
about h a l f t h e l e g i s l a t u r e would be composed o f Moslems,
t h i r t y - s i x per c e n t , of Hindus and t h e Europeans w i t h
i­
t e n per c e n t , would h o l d t h e b a l a n c e o f power.
Consequently
no
reat
t h e r e was perhaps / r i s k o f a Congress m a j o r i t y , but
;
ff
Ba^^l^^aa^e^^jao^e-^
police
of v i c t i m i s a t i o n
^ ^ Q ^ ^ ^ J ^ S J S
o f the
and t h a t M i n i s t e r s wS&d make t h e i r ^SsSaeS' f e l t
on t h e p o l i c e
Secondly,
i n such a way as t o d e s t r o y i t s m o r a l e .
t h e r e was t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e C . I . P . , which was
the i n t e l l i g e n c e
o r g a n i s a t i o n of the p o l i c e
s e r v i c e and,
more p a r t i c u l a r l y ,
what was t o be done w i t h t h e s e c r e t
d o s s i e r s and t h e i r
custody.
No q u e s t i o n had been found
more t r o u b l e s o m e than t h a t .
t o keep t h e C . I . D .
essentially
the idea had been
o u t s i d e t h e scheme and t e p l a c e them
under t h e Defence Department,
subject.
At f i r s t
so t h a t
The t r o u b l e was t h a t
i t would be a r e s e r v e d
intelligence
entered
i n t o the work o f t h e maintenance
order in t h e P r o v i n c e s .
Governor o f B e n g a l ,
o f law and
Both S i r John Anderson, t h e
and S i r H e r b e r t Emerson, t h e former
Home Member and now t h e Governor o f t h e P u n j a b , h e l d t h a t
the G . I . D .
o r g a n i s a t i o n c o u l d not be d i v o r c e d from t h e
administration.
necessary t o f a l l
Consequently,
i t had been found
back on an a l t e r n a t i v e
and t o g i v e t o
t h e G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l and t o t h e Governors powers and
responsibility
police
t o watch t h e i n t e r n a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e
and t o s e e t h a t no abuses t o o k p l a c e .
a l s o be i n c l u d e d e n a b l i n g them t o w i t h h o l d
at d i s c r e t i o n ,
Powers would
information
even from a p a r t i c u l a r M i n i s t e r .
arrangement was not b e i n g s e t f o r t h
in d e t a i l
This
i n t h e scheme
because i t had not been d i s c u s s e d at any r e c e n t Round T a b l e
C o n f e r e n c e , but t h e S e c r e t a r y
it
of
S t a t e was q u i t e a g r e e d t h a t
should be i n s e r t e d and t h a t t h e powers would have t o be
- 11 ­
covered i n the clauses s e t t i n g
out t h e
special
i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l and t h e
The n e c e s s a r y words w i l l
be added as an a d d i t i o n a l
sub-paragraph t o paragraph 47 o f t h e
and would be as
Governors.
Introduction,
follows:­
" A l l t h e m a t t e r s d e a l t w i t h i n t h i s paragraph
have been d i s c u s s e d and r e p o r t e d on by t h e Round
T a b l e Conference a t i t s T h i r d Session..
Apprehension
was e x p r e s s e d by some members at t h e f i r s t Round
T a b l e Conference t h a t g r e a t danger t o t h e peace and
t r a n q u i l i t y o f a P r o v i n c e might d e v e l o p i f the
i n t e r n a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and d i s c i p l i n e o f t h e p o l i c e
were not s e c u r e d , but t h i s m a t t e r was n o t discussed
a t t h e T h i r d Round T a b l e Conference i n r e l a t i o n t o
the s p e c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of the Governor.
H i s M a j e s t y ' s Government proposa t o d e a l w i t h i t by
i n s e r t i n g i n t h e Instrument o f i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e
Governor a d i r e c t i o n t h a t he should b e a r i n mind
t h e c l o s e c o n n e c t i o n between h i s s p e c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
f o r peace and t r a n q u i l i t y and t h e i n t e r n a l
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and d i s c i p l i n e of t h e p o l i c e , the
f o r c e upon which he would depend, i n t h e l a s t r e s o r t ,
f o r t h e d i s c h a r g e of t h e s p e c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . "
F r a n c h i s e was d e a l t w i t h In f u l l
A p p e n d i x t o t h e White P a p e r , but i t
in the
was not a m a t t e r
by which t h e Government i n t e n d e d to stand or f a l l .
would watch w i t h i n t e r e s t
on the S e l e c t
the development of
question
Committee.
W i t h r e g a r d t o Second Chambers,
provided for
this
He
i n only t h r e e
Provinces.
t h e r e w e r e not a s u f f i c i e n t
representatives
number o f
t h e s e were
In most
Provinces,
well-qualified
a v a i l a b l e f o r more than one Chamber,
T h e r e w o u l d , however,,
be two Chambers i n B e n g a l ,
and t h e U n i t e d P r o v i n c e s ,
was made f o r a j o i n t
and i n t h o s e cases
session i n case of
Behar,
provision
difference.
powers of t h e two Chambers, however, were not
equal,
t h e y were i n t h e case o f t h e C e n t r a l Government.
problem i n t h e P r o v i n c e s , however, was r a t h e r
The
as
The
different.
The q u e s t i o n o f t h e r e l a t i o n s
of the u n i t s was always a d i f f i c u l t
and t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e
namely,
field
fields
a federal f i e l d ,
and at f i r s t
apparently
one i n any
had been s e t
a provincial
and a r e s i d u a l f i e l d .
o f t h e c e n t r e and
out i n some
field,
insurmountable
disputes
it
bitter
between
in the
and t h e Hindus, who wanted a l l powers a t t h e
detail,
a concurrent
They had s t a r t e d from
the Moslems, who wished t o keep e v e r y t h i n g
Eventually
federation
Provinces,
centre.
had been a g r e e d t h a t t h e l a s t word should be
with the Governor-General.
our p o i n t o f v i e w as i t
That was an advantage
e n a b l e d the G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l t o
r e g u l a t e ttee^aj^atxi,miiJ £^ ^£^Js^s^^&^&'
!
from
aB
and t h e Provinces^, i&^^d^^^e^-^poi^i^s-.
between t h e
Centre
The q u e s t i o n o f F e d e r a l and P r o v i n c i a l
presented another d i f f i c u l t y .
Finance
There had been much
d i s m i s s i o n w i t h t h e Government of
I n d i a , who had
p r e s s e d f o r "a more r i g i d
for
scheme:
imposition of a n . o b l i g a t o r y
the States ,
example,
the
F e d e r a l Income Tax on
T h i s had been f e l t
a t home t o be t4*a
s i g 4 * ^ . c a l c u l a t e d t o s t i r up t r o u b l e .
Gons^eqsuestt-y
u*th. k)LClr P^yL,' 3cLt*^- ^
*&*A*^MJ "b%^ik,
-p
ithe f i n a n c i a l provisions./w^^*^a?ajt*iher-'*mefl?e^
subject
to possible
future adjustment.
been made, h o w e v e r ,
obligations
Pensions ,
possible,
P r o v i s i o n had
t o ensure the payment
and S e r v i c e s ,
of
i n c l u d i n g Defence
I n o r d e r t o make i t
Imperial
and
as w a t e r t i g h t
p r o v i s i o n had been made f o r
as
the f i n a l
word
t o be s*pok-en"by an O r d e r - i n - C o u n c i l , which would
on the
m
able
o f both Houses o f
Another d i f f i c u l t y
Future of the S e r v i c e s .
lie
Parliament.
was t h e q u e s t i o n o f
T h i s was one o f
the
the key
questions.
(The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r Dominion
A f f a i r s entered at this p o i n t . j
He w i s h e d t o
d i s t i n g u i s h t h e case o f I n d i a from t h a t
of
In the l a t t e r
Ireland.
the safeguards
down because t h e r e was no-one t o c a r r y
In India,
under t h i s
would have f u l l
General
scheme t h e
powers
had broken
them
out.
Governor-General
in this respect.
The Governor-
and t h e Governors roust have a cadre o f
Officials
to
carry
out t h e i r
own powers ,
For
r e a s o n p r o v i s i o n had been made f o r r i g h t s
white
this
similar
t h o s e t h a t now e x i s t e d , which would p r o v i d e t h a t
Secretary
of
State's
Services
Services were safeguarded.
t h e White P a p e r .
and o t h e r
authority
the
Indian
D e t a i l s were set
out
in
P r o v i s i o n was a l s o b e i n g made
LhtL for
t h a t c e r t a i n p o s t s should be ^mi^t^eH-t^
Services
to
these
and should not b e changed w i t h o u t
of the Governor-General
the
and S e c r e t a r y
of
e.
^his was an a b s o l u t e l y
o t h e r w i s e t h e r e would be no
essential
security *^4*e**g re
/
P
and i t would not be p o s s i b l e t o r e c r u i t
After
safeguard;
the
Services.
a p e r i o d O-P f i v e y e a r s , during which no
a l t e r a t i o n could, be made, i t was proposed t o h a v e a
Statutory
I n q u i r y , but t o k e e p the power o f making
any change h e r e
i n London.
complete a u t h o r i t y
o f the
Services
P a r l i a m e n t would have
t o d e c i d e whether t h e
recruiting
should c o n t i n u e as at p r e s e n t
or n o t .
Some P r o v i n c e s had wanted t o l e a v e t h e s e powers w i t h
the F e d e r a l Government and L e g i s l a t u r e
or
Governments, but he h i m s e l f had s e t h i s
Provincial
face
against
this .
Summing up, t h e S e c r e t a r y
of State admitted
that
t h e scheme was c o m p l i c a t e d and l i a b l e t o a t t a c k ,
i n e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s he d i d not b e l i e v e
that a
better
one could be d e v i s e d .
record
i n t h e Cabinet Minutes how much he was
He asked t o p l a c e on
indebted, t o the work o f t h e O f f i c i a l s
Office
and o f ot)v r h i g h O f f i c i a l s ,
Schuster and S i r Maurice Gwyer.
o f the
For e i g h t months
had been w o r k i n g o o n t i n u o u s l y
this
and i t was due t o them t h a t so
a p i c t u r e was no^ a v a i l a b l e .
:
Much s i m p l e r
t i o n s than t h i s had t a k e n y e a r s
It
was a remarkable f e a t ,
India
such as S i r Claud
the O f f i c i a l s
subject,
to
on
complete
Constitu­
complete.
therefore,
t o have worked
out t h i s
c o m p l i c a t e d C o n s t i t u t i o n i n so s h o r t a
period.
He thought i t had b e e n wise t o push on
quickly
in t h i s way.
and l o n g d e l a y
t o be doubted.
l i n e of
but
The appearance
of
vacillation
i n t h e past had caused, our bona
During t h e l a s t
18 months a
fides
definite
conduct had been a d o p t e d and t h e m a t t e r had
been pushed on at f u l l
speed.
a g r e e w i t h t h e Government of
He was i n c l i n e d
India that a f t e r a
to
preliminary splutter
a good many p e o p l e i n
would come down i n favour
India
o f t h e scheme, "but o f
course i t was i m p o s s i b l e t o make an a c c u r a t e
forecast.
He c o u l d not
be a c c e p t e d h e r e , b u t ,
judge how t h e scheme would
g i v e n t h e commitments o f
the
p a s t , h e thought i t had been u n a v o i d a b l e t o go on i n
this
manner.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR c o n g r a t u l a t e d the
of S t a t e ,
Secretary
and as an Englishman thanked him f o r
i t was
he had d o n e .
all
He t h o u g h t / t h e b e s t p i e c e o f work t h a t
had been done i n r e c e n t
times .
Anyone c o u l d produce
some kind o f a C o n s t i t u t i o n i n a week or t w o , but
t h e circumstances
dented.
of t h i s
C o n s t i t u t i o n were u n p r e c e ­
This was a p l a n t h a t h e thought would work,
and would i n f a c t be worked —
the p a r t i e s
at
not perhaps by
o n c e , but e v e n t u a l l y .
all
Prom the
first
we c o u l d count on t h e Europeans and the Moslems
and some o f t h e Hindu L i b e r a l s
and e v e n t u a l l y ,
help.
This
he t h o u g h t , a l l
A good many d i f f e r e n t
scheme had l e s s r i s k ;
reason that
it
gone t o o f a r
resulted:
if
t o work t h e scheme,
would come i n to
p l a n s had b e e n c o n s i d e r e d .
than other p l a n s , f o r
pursued a m i d d l e c o u r s e .
one way, chaos i n
too far
If
the
i t had
I n d i a must have
t h e o t h e r way, n o t h i n g would
have been a c c o m p l i s h e d .
T h i s m i d d l e scheme,
in
h i s v i e v , was t h e l e a s t t h a t we c o u l d do t o honour
our p l e d g e s .
the l i f e t i m e
If
He thought
i t would s e t t l e
o f t h e youngest member o f t h e
a c t i o n were not taken now,
result
country,
t i m e we should be p l a c e d i n
difficulties.
Cabinet.
and i n a
appalling
The p r e s e n t scheme hung t o g e t h e r
and had b e t t e r be put f o r w a r d
for
extreme danger would
both t o I n d i a and t o t h i s
few y e a r s '
India
in i t s
present
well,
form.
He hoped t h a t members o f
the S e l e c t Committee would
n o t o n l y c o n s i d e r any p r o p o s a l s
would a l s o t h i n k of t h e i r
t h a t w e r e made but
effect
on o t h e r p a r t s
of
t h e scheme.
^The Lord C h a n c e l l o r withdrew at t h i s
p o i n t , as he had t o s i t at t h e
J u d i c i a l Committee o f t h e P r i v y C o u n c i l
on an important Canadian A p p e a l . )
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER s a i d he was
particularly
concerned w i t h t h e f i n a n c i a l
t h e scheme and i t s r e p e r c u s s i o n s
tions here.
h o w e v e r , he was s a t i s f i e d
any scheme w i t h o u t r i s k s
present
risks,
t h e scheme,
risks
A f t e r much c o n s i d e r a t i o n ,
t h a t no-one could produce
in this respect.
I t was a
and he was p r e p a r e d t o accept
the
scheme as p r e s e n t i n g t h e l e a s t r i s k s .
r e c a l l e d that the Secretary
stated
of State for
orally.
recommendations on c e r t a i n
He hoped, t h e r e f o r e ,
that
He
I n d i a had
i n C . P . - 4 9 A that he proposed t o g i v e
colleagues his
of
condi­
d i d not i n c r e a s e t h e
t o the B r i t i s h Exchequer.
c h o i c e of
on f i n a n c i a l
He d i d not p r e t e n d t h a t
even w i t h t h e s a f e g u a r d s ,
aspect
his
points
the Secretary
S t a t e would g i v e the Cabinet the substance o f
of
certain
amendments t h a t had b e e n a g r e e d t o t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e
safeguards .
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA s a i d that
been h i s
i n t e n t i o n t o b r i n g out t h e s e p o i n t s
The o b j e c t
of the f i n a n c i a l
b r i n g out c e r t a i n p o i n t s
up by a Committee of
it
orally.
s a f e g u a r d s had been
included
i n t h e Report
t h e T h i r d Round T a b l e
to
drawn
Conference.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER r e c a l l e d t h a t
an e a r l i e r
stage
apprehensions
of t h i s
lest
at
q u e s t i o n he had e x p r e s s e d
we-might
convey t o I n d i a a
i m p r e s s i o n t o t h a t which we had o b t a i n e d
from t h e R e p o r t s
had
He d i d not t h i n k t h a t
different­
ourselves
our v i e w
t-i-on.
I t was v e r y
misunderstanding
following
essential
t h a t t h e r e should be no
on t h i s p o i n t ,
and c o n s e q u e n t l y
the
amendment had been a g r e e d as a new paragraph
t o Paragraph 3 2 , on page
9:­
" I f a s i t u a t i o n should a r i s e i n w h i c h ,
a l l o t h e r r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r the
inauguration of the F e d e r a t i o n having
been s a t i s f i e d , i t had so f a r p r o v e d
impossible s u c c e s s f u l l y t o s t a r t the
R e s e r v e Bank or i f f i n a n c i a l , economic
o r p o l i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n s were such as
t o render i t impracticable t o s t a r t
the new F e d e r a l and P r o v i n c i a l G o v e r n ­
ments on a s t a b l e b a s i s , i t would
i n e v i t a b l y be n e c e s s a r y t o r e c o n s i d e r
t h e p o s i t i o n and d e t e r m i n e i n t h e
l i g h t o f t h e then c i r c u m s t a n c e s what
course should be p u r s u e d .
If,
u n f o r t u n a t e l y , such r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n
became n e c e s s a r y , His M a j e s t y s
Government a r e p l e d g e d t o c a l l i n t o
c o n f e r e n c e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of I n d i a n
opinion".
T
Other amendments t o the f i n a n c i a l
p r o v i s i o n s had
been a g r e e d t o , mainly w i t h t h e same o b j e c t
t o a v o i d any p o s s i b l e
in view,
misunderstanding.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE s a i d he was
s a t i s f i e d with the safeguards
point of view,
from a commercial
but he-attached i m p o r t a n c e t o
l a s t s u b - p a r a g r a p h of Paragraph
as
12? o f t h e
the
proposals,
follows:­
" P r o v i s i o n w i l l be made on t h e same
l i n e s f o r equal t r e a t m e n t on a
r e c i p r o c a l basis of ships r e g i s t e r e d
r e s p e c t i v e l y i n B r i t i s h I n d i a and
the United Kingdom".
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA s a i d t h a t
without
t h i s paragraph, he had i n t e n d e d t o
cover
even
merchant s h i p p i n g ,
For p o l i t i c a l
and thought i t had been
covered.
r e a s o n s he -would have p r e f e r r e d
not
t o i n c l u d e the sub-paragraph quoted a b o v e ,
since
was l i k e l y
in
t o cause p o l i t i c a l
difficulties
He a p p r e c i a t e d , h o w e v e r , the d i f f i c u l t i e s
President
of
it
India.
the
of t h e Board of T r a d e , and a g r e e d t o
its
inclusion.
THE PRESIDENT OP THE BOARD OP TRADE s a i d he had
been a d v i s e d t h a t
it
was e s s e n t i a l
to include
p r o v i s i o n as a s e p a r a t e s t i p u l a t i o n ,
this
as i n the
case
o f a l l Commercial T r e a t i e s .
THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR THE 00I-0NIES c a l l e d
a t t e n t i o n t o t h e l a s t sub-paragraph o f Paragraph 122
o f the
proposals:­
"A F e d e r a l or P r o v i n c i a l l a w , h o w e v e r ,
which might o t h e r w i s e be v o i d oh t h e
ground o f i t s d i s c r i m i n a t o r y c h a r a c t e r ,
w i l l be v a l i d i f p r e v i o u s l y d e c l a r e d
by the 0 o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l or a G o v e r n o r ,
as the case may b e , i n h i s d i s c r e t i o n ,
t o be n e c e s s a r y i n the i n t e r e s t s o f
t h e peace and t r a n q u i l i t y o f I n d i a
or any p a r t t h e r e o f " .
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA e x p l a i n e d
that
t h i s was not a commercial but a p o l i c e measure,
r e q u i r e d / i n the e v e n t o f a communal t r o u b l e i n a
particular
city,
t o which i t would then be
applied.
The Government o f I n d i a a t t a c h e d importance t o i t
.
PARAGRAPH 125.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR -
INDIA s a i d t hat t h e arrangements f o r
preventing
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a p p l i e d not only t o t r a d e and s h i p p i n g ,
hut a l s o t o p r o f e s s i o n s
Some d i f f i c u l t y
such as l a w y e r s and d o c t o r s .
had been r a i s e d i n r e g a r d t o
T h e r e was some hope how, however,
difficulties
doctors.
o f overcoming
as l e g i s l a t i o n was now under
these
consideration
i n t h e L e g i s l a t i v e Assembly which might l e a d t o an agreement
being reached.
effect
He p r o p o s e d t o i n s e r t
a note t o
this
^ A^.O
i n t h e White P a p e r .
^ ^
S t J
?^-
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES then
drew a t t e n t i o n t o the p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t only f i f t y per cent
o f t h e s e a t s a v a i l a b l e t o the I n d i a n S t a t e s would be f i l l e d
i n which c a s e the c a l c u l a t i o n s :
p a r t i e s and the r i s k o f
as t o t h e b a l a n c e
of
c o n t r o l Qf t h e t w o Houses by
Congress might be u p s e t .
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA a g r e e d t h a t
might happen.
that
if
fifty
The Government o f I n d i a a n t i c i p a t e d ,
p e r cent
could not s t a y out f o r
use t h e i r
position to
outstanding questions
into force
ofthe
o f t h e S t a t e s came i n , t h e
long.
this
however,
others
The P r i n c e s were l i k e l y
to
d r i v e a hard b a r g a i n on a number of
and i t was n e c e s s a r y t h a t t h e coming
scheme should not be e n t i r e l y
in t h e i r
hands.
In regard t o a suggestion that
government
i n I n d i a would be i n c r e a s e d by t h e s e
the Secretary
not be v e r y
little
of S t a t e thought t h a t t h e
serious,
more c o s t l y .
Ministers
1
proposals,
i n c r e a s e would
s a l a r i e s would be f i x e d
On t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e r i g h t
Council,
of
t h e Assembly b e i n g l a r g e r would be a
t h e A c t , though t h e y m i g h t be r a i s e d
privy
the expenses
in
later.
of
appeal t o
the
t h e SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA s a i d t h a t
t h e p o l i c y was t o t r y
and r e s t r i c t
I n d i a n s wished t o a p p e a l on a g r e a t
appeals.
number o f
At p r e s e n t
cases,
particularly
in the c a s e o f c a p i t a l
s e n t e n c e s , though the
a p p e a l s had a t p r e s e n t t o be i g n o r e d .
The p r e s e n t
might p o s s i b l y be a l t e r e d by the S e l e c t
provisions
Committee.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH asked q u e s t i o n s as t o
the
practicalworking
of
the f i n a n c i a l
powers of t h e G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l
s a f e g u a r d s and the
f o r compelling the
o f h i s own p r o p o s a l s f o r b a l a n c i n g t h e Budget.
adoption
He p o i n t e d
out the F i n a n c i a l A d v i s e r had no e x e c u t i v e powers.
o f the G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l would be v e r y
difficult
The t a s k
unless he
had the same knowledge as t h e M i n i s t e r and t h e r e appeared
be c o n s i d e r a b l e
possibilities
offriction
A d v i s e r and t h e Finance M i n i s t e r
u n l e s s the
to
Financial
agreed.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA s a i d t h a t
the
a l t e r n a t i v e was t o have a r i v a l Finance M i n i s t e r under t h e
Governor-General.
A l t h o u g h the F i n a n c i a l . A d v i s e r had no
e x e c u t i v e p o w e r s , the G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l would be in a p o s i t i o n
to g i v e
d i r e c t i o n s t h a t he was t o see a l l n e c e s s a r y
papers.
The G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l would o f t e n p r e s i d e at m e e t i n g s of
his
Cabinet and could i n s i s t
to
-the F i n a n c i a l
on a l l
information being given
Adviser.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION p o i n t e d
out t h a t t h e F i n a n c i a l A d v i s e r would be i n a p o s i t i o n
give
a d v i c e t o the G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l i f
insecure.
to
t h e Budget
At any p o i n t he could a d v i s e t h e
appeared
Governor-General
inform the Finance M i n i s t e r t h a t he might have t o
He did not t h i n k t h e r e should be any s p e c i a l
to
interfere
difficulty,
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA d i d not t h i n k
t h a t t h e independence o f the Finance M i n i s t e r would be
a t r o p h i e d as l o n g as an e f f o r t
reasonably.
was made t o work t h e
The G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l would see t h e
system
Financial
A d v i s e r had a c c e s s t o a l l t h e documents he r e q u i r e d . The
G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l a l s o had a s p e c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
t h a t t h e charges were aad-e; f o r
necessary,
s e i z e t h e Customs.
example, he c o u l d ,
for
if
seeing
THE PRESIDENT OP THE BOARD OP EDUCATION,
t o the question of
that
appeals t o the P r i v y
i t would he p o s s i b l e
India to insert
and t h a t t h e
f o r the S e c r e t a r y
a footnote,
desirable to restrict
Council,
stating
that
it
appeals to the Privy
p o i n t might be c o n s i d e r e d
reverting
suggested
of S t a t e
was
for
considered
Council,
in t h e
Committee
stage.
THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR INDIA a g r e e d t o
consider
t h e s u g g e s t i o n , but asked f o r f u l l l i b e r t y i n t h e m a t t e r
as i t would be n e c e s s a r y t o c o n s u l t t h e Government of I n d i a .
THE PRESIDENT OP THE BOARD OP EDUCATION',
t o a s u g g e s t i o n t h a t t h e t a s k of t h e V i c e r o y would
responsibility
and work beyond human c a p a c i t y ,
t h i s was not t h e c a s e .
responsible
At
to parliament
present
for
involve
thought
t h e V i c e r o y was
everything in
f u t u r e he would be r e s p o n s i b l e
referring
for
India,
certain things
and o t h e r w i s e would be a d v i s e d by r e s p o n s i b l e
In
only
Ministers,
THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR WAR r e c a l l e d t h a t he
had been a member of t h e Cabinet Committee.
From t h e
first
he had had m i s g i v i n g s as t o our I n d i a n p o l i c y and he f e l t
i t would not be r i g h t f o r him t o a l l o w h i s c o l l e a g u e s t o
assume t h a t he was s a t i s f i e d .
were t o
go f o r w a r d On a p o l i c y
safeguards,
scheme.
he was s a t i s f i e d
he c o u l d not
He v i o l e n t l y
with
suggest
the C i v i l
i f we
a better
Servants
r e j e c t e d the
suggestion,
^however, t h a t t h i s was t h e minimum t h a t was r e q u i r e d
I£t. UifaiUtitJ' s a t i s f y
l^c^
of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
He a g r e e d t h a t t h e work of
had been w o n d e r f u l .
,
He c o u l d say t h a t ,
our p l e d g e s .
The present
Government had g i v e n
^JuA^c /na p l e d g e e x c e p t t h a t t h e y would do t h e i r
£-hU+bj iJiUt^AjJ
is- in^t i
fe^^^^h^a^^he^^s^rt^df.
g o t t h e wording of t h e
that
best
to^jgi ^
3
The C o n s e r v a t i v e M i n i s t e r s
had
d e c l a r a t i o n a l t e r e d so as t o ensure
t h a t t h e p l e d g e d i d not go beyond t h i s
therefore,
to
t h e y c o u l d wipe e f f
point.
t h e s l a t e any
e x c e p t t h a t t h e Government would do t h e i r
q u e s t i o n On which he f e l t
He t h o u g h t ,
best.
pledges
The
first
doubts w as as t o w h e t h e r the
- 22 ­
s a f e g u a r d s were e f f e c t i v e .
That was the
point
t h e p r e s e n t House of Commons would f a s t e n .
were, f i r s t ,
as t o whether t h e r e
could f u l f i l
the r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s
In t h i s c o n s t i t u t i o n ,
e x i s t e d a superman who
of t h e
of S t a t e ,
see i f
Governor-General.
and he had t o be
his authority
i n f r i n g e d by a n y t h i n g done.
I f the
discharge these f u n c t i o n s ,
he had at h i s
reason f o r the precautions
he c o u l d only do so
felt
in regard t o the Public
Service
the gravest
doubt Qn t h e p o i n t .
s m a l l e r than i n t h e p a s t .
i n I n d i a was
would
In the future
to-day,
t h e r e were v a s t t r a c t s
He
Even t o d a y ,
appreciably
i t might be almost
i m p o s s i b l e t o o b t a i n w h i t e men o f t h e r i g h t
of
calibre.
Even
I n d i a where
there
only one w h i t e man i n an o a s i s surrounded by
numbers of
Indians.
I t was t r u e t h a t the- I n d i a n
Servant had t h e r i g h t t o a p p e a l t o the
I t was not l i k e l y
m a t t e r of
Civil
Governor-General,
he would be s u f f e r i n g
so much i n t h e
pay as i n promotion and a p p o i n t m e n t s .
c o u l d judge of
such m a t t e r s
at a vast
distance.
patronage would be w i t h I n d i a n M i n i s t e r s
if
Service.
i n p r o v i d i n g him w i t h eyes and e a r s ?
t h e number o f w h i t e o f f i c i a l s
was
provided
That was the
Were t h e Cabinet s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e C i v i l
himself
was b e i n g
person c o u l d be found
d i s p o s a l a p r o p e r machine.
prove e f f e c t i v e
doubts
r u l e r and i n o t h e r s an a u t o c r a t ,
but s u b j e c t t o t h e S e c r e t a r y
to
His
t h e G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l would i n some
m a t t e r s be a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
c o n s t a n t l y watching t o
on which
and i t
No V i c e r o y
All
was
the
doubtful
t h e G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l would e v e r be a b l e t o use h i s
T h i s was even more t r u e o f
the Governors,
In time
powers.
there
might even be I n d i a n Governors and he doubted o f t h e i r moral
responsibility
difficulty
order.
f o r p r o t e c t i n g white o f f i c i a l s .
was i n r e g a r d t o t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
He understood t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y
-
23
­
H i s next
for
law and
of S t a t e f o r
India
hoped, i n most oases t h e r e would not he a Congress
majority,
"but what i f
Communist M i n i s t e r s
t h i s did happen?.
i n charge of t h e p o l i c e .
not b e l i e v e t h e b e s t a u t h o r i t i e s
t h a t a proper supply
of
i n such c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,
o r d e r might v e r y
point was t h a t i f
into t h i s
in India
believed
obtained
and t h e whole system o f law and
e a s i l y break down.
half
He d i d
i n f o r m a t i o n c o u l d be
The
fourth
the I n d i a n S t a t e s d i d not
scheme, t h e p o s i t i o n would be v e r y
There would be tremendous p r e s s u r e
spite
T h e r e would he
of their abstention.
t h e s a f e g u a r d s were l i k e l y
difficult.
t e go on w i t h i t
He t h o u g h t ,
good, a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
t o break down.
and o f t e n
clever,
corrupt,
J u s t i c e would be s o l d , t h e poor
that
I n d i a would
as t h e i r
o,wn r e l i g i o n c o m p e l l e d them t o l o o k a f t e r t h e i r
relations.
in
therefore,
be run more and more by I n d i a n s who were v e r y
but not
enter
own
oppressed,
and t h e r e would be a break-down i n the s e r v i c e s .
the r e s u l t
In
t h e r e might be a Moslem Empire, or a s e r i e s
Of Communist outbreaks and e v e n t u a l l y
deteriorating
a situation
i n t o t h a t now e x i s t i n g i n China where
War Lords e x e r c i s e d a p r e c a r i o u s c o n t r o l o v e r v a s t
He a g r e e d t h a t
alternative.
right
i t was v e r y
difficult
to find a
practical
He h i m s e l f had always thought t h a t
course was t o
regions,
the
endow the G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l w i t h g r e a t
powers and t o p r o v i d e him w i t h an Assembly and M i n i s t e r s ,
but w i t h o u t
advice.
constitutional
power t o make him t a k e
their
As e v e r y member o f t h e Cabinet had t e make
up h i s mind b e f o r e March 17th (when t h e p r o p o s a l s were
to, be p u b l i s h e d )
responsibility
as t o whether t h e y c o u l d t a k e
f o r them, he had f e l t
make h i s p o s i t i o n c l e a r .
of
State f o r
it
The b e l i e f
only
of the
right
to
Secretary
I n d i a t h a t t h e scheme could be made t o work
was t h e s t r o n g e s t argument i n h i s own c a s e .
-24­
THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR INDIA e x p r e s s e d
g r a t i t u d e to the Secretary
of State f o r
he had g i v e n on t h e Cabinet
he had n e v e r c o n c e a l e d h i s
policy.
He h i m s e l f
War f o r t h e
Committee, t h e more so as
doubts as t o t h e wisdom of
did not
c l a i m t o be c o n f i d e n t
o p t i m i s t i c and shared many of t h e doubts o f t h e
o f S t a t e f o r War, but e v e r y a l t e r n a t i v e
t o l e a d t o a s i t u a t i o n of
great
i n I n d i a w m i 4 - be a g a i n s t u s .
policy
For the l a s t
or
Secretary
appeared
e i g h t e e n months
i n I n d i a and had taken
more d r a s t i c a c t i o n than e v e r b e f o r e .
Latterly,
however,
we had had c o n s i d e r a b l e support and many d o u b t e r s ,
had cvme
the
danger i n which everyone
we had been f a c e d w i t h much t r o u b l e
among t h e P r i n c e s ,
help
down on our s i d e .
especially
Any
a l t e r n a t i v e plan which d i d not p r o v i d e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
for
anyone would put t h e Moslems a g a i n s t u s , as t h e y were
determined t o have p r o v i n c i a l autonomy.
b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s ioft"raoji-a^l-nlAg
t o knjp l ^ j i i t h
tho -Moslems,
(
He thought/the
Po-s-44i-jro-n--in £-nd^^t-w^g
^im^tr^ee&^^sMe
than at any time s i n c e the War.
To say t h a t
oday mo r e
1
provincial
autonomy would not be g r a n t e d would put/the Moslems a g a i n s t
were
us.
So f a r as the
C i v i l S e r v a n t s /-
out t h a t t h e p r e s e n t
c o n c e r n e d , he p o i n t e d
p o s i t i o n was f a r from
They w e r e ^ i n j e o p a r d y even now.
satisfactory.
So f a r as t h e p o s i t i o n
the G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l was c o n c e r n e d , he was c o n t e n t t o
it
t o what t h e P r e s i d e n t
f o r h i s work and t h e money f o r
that s t a f f
So f a r as t h e S e r v i c e s were c o n c e r n e d ,
four o f f i c i a l s
leave
of t h e Board o f E d u c a t i o n had s a i d .
The G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l was t o have w h a t e v e r s t a f f
of
of
he needed
was not t o be v o t e d .
even today t h r e e
w e r e w o r k i n g under I n d i a n s .
out
He could not
t e l l whether r e c r u i t i n g would c o n t i n u e or n o t , , but he was
r e a s s u r e d by the f a c t
in I n d i a had l a t e l y
that three
o f the most e f f i c i e n t
s e n t t h e i r sons i n t o t h e I n d i a n
-25­
officials
Civil
Service.
So f a r
as patronage was
power was r e t a i n e d under t h i s
concerned,
scheme w i t h t h e
G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l and the Governors t o
serious v i c t i m i s a t i o n .
prevent
There was so much mutual
s u s p i c i o n between Moslems and Hindus t h a t
perhaps
t h e r e would not b e / d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t
white
officials^
y^-f^^j
Referring
Charles Teggart-made.
t o the p o l i c e ,
had been d i s q u i e t e d by the
S i r Charles f e a r e d that i f
responsibility,
he a g r e e d t h a t
Sir
arrangements
Indian Ministers
had
the sources of i n f o r m a t i o n would dry up.
S i r H e r b e r t Emerson and S i r John Anderson b o t h
thought the system by which the Governors c o u l d w i t h h o l d
papers would work.
If
a terrorist
p o w e r , they would r e f u s e
Government t h e m s e l v e s .
many of t h e S e c r e t a r y
Government came i n t o
t o have i t
and take over
the
He a d m i t t e d , h o w e v e r , t h a t he s h a r e d
of State f o r War's
anxieties.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OP THE COUNCIL s a i d he hoped
the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e
f o r War would r e a l i s e t h a t
he s a i d had some echo i n t h e h e a r t s
a C o n s e r v a t i v e h i s fundamental
the Empire and some c u r i o u s
to the white parts of
l a t e Lord
of a l l
everything
the Cabinet.
As
c r e e d was the p r e s e r v a t i o n
things had b e e n done i n
relation
the Empire by such I m p e r i a l i s t s
B a l f o u r and Mr.Amery.
The p r e s e n t
as the
proposals
f o r I n d i a might save I n d i a t o t h e E m p i r e , b u t i f
t h e y were
not i n t r o d u c e d we should c e r t a i n l y
situation
was f u l l
if
of
lose i t .
dangers and d i f f i c u l t i e s ,
of
The
but t h e s e were
greater
a c t i o n were not t a k e n .
THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR AIR shared
the view o f
the S e c r e t a r y of
e n q u i r i e s as
of S t a t e
State
f o r War.
generally
He made some
to the p o s i t i o n of Aden on which the
Secretary
f o r I n d i a r e ^ a s s u r e d him as e x p l a i n e d a b o v e .
The C a b i n e t
agreed:-
To approve the i s s u e of the White Paper
a t t a c h e d t o C P . 4 9 ( 3 3 ) s u b j e c t to amendments
made by the C a b i n e t Committee and t o t h o s e
mentioned above and s u b j e c t to any s m a l l
d r a f t i n g a l t e r a t i o n s which t h e S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r I n d i a might deem n e c e s s a r y .
(NOTE: In v i e w o f the absence o f the Prime
M i n i s t e r and t h e importance o f t h e
s u b j e c t , the S e c r e t a r y was i n s t r u c t e d
t o make a f u l l summary o f t h e d i s c u s ­
s i o n f o r purposes o f r e c o r d . )
H E
2 , The Lord P r e s i d e n t
PAR EAST
Cabinet
the Arms
t h a t he was e x p e c t i n g t o r e c e i v e a message
from the Prime M i n i s t e r
Bprevi ous
I Reference:
I Cabinet 14
I'(53), Con­
elusion 1.)
iprobable
Cabinet
feet in p.
o f the Council warned t h e
on the s u b j e c t
o f t h e Par
Fast Arms Embargo, and i t might be n e c e s s a r y
t o summon a M e e t i n g of the Cabinet
f o r him
on the morning o f
Monday n e x t , March 1 3 t h , w i t h a view to withdrax^ing
the
embargo.
The C h a n c e l l o r
o f t h e Exchequer reminded the
Cabinet t h a t at p r e v i o u s
discussions
they had been l e d t o b e l i e v e
different
from t h a t
on t h i s
subject
t h a t our p o s i t i o n was
other c o u n t r i e s ,
than once been assured o f t h i s .
He had more
The P r e s i d e n t
the Board o f Trade had then informed him t h a t
French Government had the same powers as t h e
the
British
but d i d not e x e r c i s e them.
He had wondered i f
only meant that
if
they c o u l d ,
embargo,
^he F o r e i g n O f f i c e ,
enquiries
through t h e P a r i s
full
information,
of
this
they w i s h e d , put on an
h o w e v e r , had made
Embassy and had
from which i t
obtained
appeared, t h a t
the
French Government were i n e x a c t l y t h e same p o s i t i o n
as t h e B r i t i s h and t h a t the e x p o r t
o f arms had t o be
licensed.
The C a b i n e t t o o k n o t e t h a t i t m i g h t
be n e c e s s a r y t o h o l d an emergency
M e e t i n g on the morning of Monday,
March 1 3 . 19 3 3 .
2 , W h i t e h a l l Gardens,
March 10,
s.''M,
1933.