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In the end C. R. Das came to see him, but he would not budge from his demand for im-mediate swaraj, which Ronaldshay rejected. Immediately afterwards, Das began an intensive campaign among the students, appealing to them to defy the Government and go to jail, and this resulted in large bands of students parading the streets and enrolling in unlawful associations. A quantity of arms was also found in an untenanted house. It was no longer possible to refrain from proceeding against Das and his colleagues.

(Misdated 1922.)

The situation in Calcutta is disturbing. Large numbers of people have been imprisoned for breaching the order forbidding volunteer associations; weapons have been discovered near the Khilafat Committee’s offices; and there is disaffection amongst sections of the police. Lajpat Rai and Motilal Nehru have been arrested for organizing volunteer forces. It is clear that the non-co-operationists are testing their power by compelling the authorities to arrest large numbers of people and thus paralysing Government. It is a formidable situation, particularly in view of the Prince’s arrival on the 24th. The increasing tension between non-co-operationists and co-operationists is worrying in a city with a strong European element, still smarting under the 17 November incident. The Governor and Council have decided to arrest C. R. Das and other leaders, and Reading has requested further troops. Das has met with Ronaldshay and requested an immediate conference, stating that non-co-operationists will be satisfied only with complete swaraj immediately; but under the circumstances Reading considers that it would do harm even to discuss a conference.

(Typed.)

Part 2. Ronaldshay felt that, owing to the position he had taken in the Legislative Council, he ought to respond to the Bengal non-co-operationists’ change of attitude as opposed to Gandhi’s. After pleading for concessions with regard to proclamations and the release of prisoners apart from any discussion of the conference, Malaviya left. Reading communicated to Ronaldshay the substance of A3/21/2 and explained that he was no longer in a position to authorise a conference, even if the proper assurances were forthcoming, but Ronaldshay insisted that a conference was the only way out and that in Bengal Das and others were presumably prepared to make terms for a truce. While they were talking news came that the Governor of Bihar and Orissa [Sir Havilland Le Mesurier] had issued an order revoking the proclamations and releasing prisoners, apparently assuming that a conference was about to take place. The reception of the Prince at Patna was successful, despite the hartal. He and Ronaldshay are in favour of releasing prison-ers. He left Calcutta last night, and is presently on the train. He detests the large number of arrests and the heavy sentences on young men, and is not consoled by the approval of those who believe in repression as the only policy of governing India. The Cabinet Committee seem not to have appreciated the seriousness of the situation; but he supposes that their attitude is not final, as he can imagine the difficulty of having to make a prompt decision in the absence of the Prime Minister and leading members of the Cabinet. As it happens, the Cabinet’s view did not affect the situation, though if he had received it in time it would have been very awkward for him to give an absolute refusal for all time.

(Typed. Continued in A3/23/4.)

C. R. Das and four or five others were arrested on the 9th, and many moderates have joined in the cry against the repressive measures used by the Government. A large number of students have been convicted, all of whom have been offered release if they will promise not to defy the law again, but only some have accepted the offer. There has been an intensive campaign to boycott the Prince of Wales’ visit, and Ronaldshay expects a bad hartal on the 24th, possibly accompanied by rioting. ‘For the last few days the students have dropped out of the picture and their place has been taken by roughs and mill-hands, mostly Muhammadans, always an ominous sign in Calcutta. Many of those who have been arrested for obstruction etc. in the streets have admitted that they have been paid to come out. This is evidence of a sinister organisation at work. And the danger lies in the fact that their religious fanaticism is being worked on. Leaflets of an inflammatory nature calling on Muhammadans to fight for Islam have been appearing in the town.’

Accepts Reading’s analysis of the political situation, but he reiterates his opposition to sentencing political offenders to rigorous imprisonment, and cautions against the arrest of women. ‘I do not know what has happened to Motilal Nehru, but he is a well educated barrister whose mind has been perverted originally by bitter resentment at his exclusion from Club life in the United Provinces. I do hope that he will not find himself suffering rigorous imprisonment.’ Asks for an explanation of what ‘picketing’, in the sense that it deserves six months’ imprisonment, means. A conference is inevitable one day, he thinks, but not on the basis proposed by Das.

(Typed.)

He is alarmed by the situation in India, which he believes has been altered by the events in Bengal. The riots and the reception of the Prince at Bombay had done a lot of good, and Das, in conjunction with the Poona Brahmins, was preparing to oppose Gandhi at the Ahmedabad Congress. But then came the sudden proclamations of the volunteers at Calcutta and the arrest of Das, which has once more united the factions of agitators.

Part 2. As a result of the negotiations, Das stated that he was willing to waive the hartal if the proclamations were withdrawn and prisoners released, but Gandhi added the further condition that all fatwa prisoners, including the Ali brothers, should also be released, and as Reading had already refused to discuss this question, this condition prevented further discussion. Reading admits that if Gandhi had responded to Malaviya’s subsequent requests to cease defiance he would have felt compelled in return to agree to discuss the composition and objects of the conference; but the opportunity has now passed. Gandhi’s telegrams, he believes, merely showed a desire to gain party advantage out of a situation which is embarrassing to the Government. He did also send a verbal message stating that he would attend a conference if invited, but as he refuses to make this statement public Reading regards it is useless, though he acknowledges Gandhi’s party difficulties.

(Typed.)

Part 3. Is disturbed by the statement by Butler cited in A3/12/5, which was taken without consultation and appears to have had little effect in calming agitation in the United Provinces. He dislikes subjecting men like Nehru and Das to rigorous imprisonment, but exceptions cannot be made in their favour when they are the chief offenders. Refers to A3/12/4. It is not presently practicable to constitute separate jails for political prisoners, and there is always the danger that they might increase the numbers of persons courting arrest. Acknowledges the extreme undesirability of arresting women, but observes that it is sometimes impossible to avoid, as in the case of Mrs C. R. Das.

(Typed. Continued from A3/14/6.)

Refers to A3/12/6. He is not suggesting that they should attempt to define political prisoners or allow it to be known that rigorous imprisonment would not be applied in any case, but is concerned that the world should think that they allow political prisoners to undergo rigorous imprisonment. At some time peace must be restored between the Government of India, and it is not right that eminent men like Das, who have acted without criminal intent, should suffer what is regarded as the analogy of hard labour. If Gandhi is arrested and sentenced to rigor-ous imprisonment the world would regard the treatment as unfitting and foolish. It is neces-sary to prevent the [political] activities of such prisoners by secluding them from the outside world, but they should be treated with dignity. Harsh treatment only embitters them and their friends against the Government. To his mind the secret mitigation of the Ali brothers’ treat-ment gives them a martyrdom to which they are not entitled. Congratulates him on his speech at Calcutta.

(Typed. Used for transmission.)