Item 25 - Telegram from Lord Reading to Edwin Montagu

The Council have not definitely passed a resolution to prosecute Gandhi. Reading wishes to arrest him for illegal acts rather than words, and will therefore wait till his campaign of civil disobedience begins on the 23rd, especially as it will be after the Prince’s visit to Bombay; but he is anxious that no suggestion of this should leak out, and this is the reason for postponing the formal decision. Is pleased that Parliament have postponed the debate on India. Discussion of a possible conference is continuing. He would like to state publicly (1) that he is pressing the British Government for a decision on Smyrna and Thrace more in accord with Indian opinion; (2) that he is sure that the British Government will consider such representations favourably; (3) that the British Government have not prevented the Allies from restoring Thrace and Smyrna to Turkey; (4) that the British have not lent any assistance to the Greeks in their war with Turkey. If he had a favourable answer on these points, a conference might be considered.

(Typed.)