Pièce 6 - Telegram from Lord Reading to Edwin Montagu

Part 2. He hopes that the arrival of Malaviya, whom he is about to meet, may assist a solution of the crisis. Sapru will arrive on the 21st, with Jamnadas Dwarkadas, Mrs Besant, etc., to try to arrange a conference. Sapru continues to act loyally. Dwarkadas has gone to Bombay, apparently to see whether Gandhi would be willing to join in a conference. He believes Gandhi’s presence at a conference essential, and will invite him if necessary. There has been practically no violent disorder yet. His main object at present is to enable the Prince’s visit to take place without demonstrations, etc., during his stay at Calcutta. The hartal will only be a problem if it affects transport. The Prince has written to point out that his visits to universities have been attended by humiliatingly small numbers of students; his degree will therefore be conferred upon him at Government House instead of Calcutta University. Reading has cancelled his at-tendance at a Bar dinner in his honour, as a number of vakils and pleaders were proposing to boycott it; but a recent garden party at Belvedere was well attended.

(Typed. Continued from A3/14/5.)