Item 20 - Telegram from Lord Reading to Edwin Montagu

Part 2. He was visited today by Lamettji Naranji, a partner in Bouton Bros. and a close ally of Purshottamdas, who explained that he and others not previously involved in politics have joined this action in order to secure more stable conditions for trade, and that Purshottamdas had expressed to Gandhi his desire to see an end to unrest and to arrive at an honourable settlement. In reply, Reading refused to give any encouragement to Naranji and Purshottamdas beyond what he had said to the deputation on 21 December, pointing out that since that date violent methods had been advocated at Congress, which Gandhi had secured the rejection of, but had not condemned. He would say nothing till definite proposals had been made, but pointed out that Gandhi’s ‘minimum’ demands—complete redress for the Punjab grievances, complete satisfaction of Khilafat demands, and complete swaraj immediately—were unreasonable. Naranji replied that Gandhi had stated his willingness to make more reasonable demands. Reading reiterated that he would give no opinion till he had received these demands, together with assurances that Gandhi was speaking for the whole non-co-operation movement and had the support of Congress. Naranji said that they intended to insist that Gandhi should get the support of Congress, and asked that his visit be kept secret. They also discussed the suspicions that Gandhi’s object was to make demands at a conference which would render it abortive, and stir up annoyance with the Government.

(Typed. Continued from A3/24/19.)