Item 7 - Telegram from S. R. Hignell to S. K. Brown

Sends in full the ‘agreed statement’ as given to the press: Lord Reading has been advised that his conversations with Gandhi about the Ali brothers have been inaccurately reported in the press, and he has therefore authorised the publication of an agreed statement on the following lines. The interviews resulted from conversations between Reading and Malaviya in which the latter was advised of the Government’s decision to begin criminal proceedings against the Ali brothers for making speeches inciting to violence. Malaviya and Andrews suggested that Reading should speak with Gandhi. The proposed interview was intended to have reference to the general situation, but it is acknowledged that in inviting Gandhi to Simla Malaviya made no reference to the intended proceedings against the Ali brothers. In due course Gandhi came to Simla and an interview was arranged. At the first interview no mention was made of the proposed prosecutions. At the next, Reading expressed the belief that responsible non-co-operators had made speeches inciting to violence, and Gandhi replied that, if he was satisfied that such were the case, he would publicly repudiate them and their teachings unless they withdrew their statements. Reading read to Gandhi passages in speeches by the Ali brothers that he believed were calculated to incite to violence, and Gandhi acknowledged that they were capable of bearing that interpretation; but he asserted that he did not believe that the Ali brothers had intended to incite their audience to violence, and said that he would advise them to express public regret for the unintentional incitement in these passages. Reading asked to see a draft of this statement, and at this point he mentioned the intended prosecutions, stating that, if he was satisfied with the statement, he would try to prevent the prosecutions being carried out. Gandhi, in due course, showed the statement to Reading, who pointed out that certain passages, particularly the reference to the Ali brothers’ religious creed, gave it the appearance of a manifesto, and that it did not contain a promise to refrain from speeches inciting to violence. Reading pointed out that, after publication of the statement, the Ali brothers could give any explanation by means of speeches, provided they did not infringe the law. Gandhi agreed to make the requested alterations. Reading advised him that, if the Ali brothers signed the amended statement, the proceedings would be suspended, reserving the right to take them up again if the promises in the statement were not observed, and noted that it would be necessary to issue a communiqué explaining the Government’s position. Reading advised Gandhi that he might not be able to prevent the commencement of proceedings if the statement was not published quickly, and Gandhi agreed that this would be done. Some days later, Gandhi telegraphed that the Ali brothers had signed the [revised] statement with an immaterial alteration. The Government then issued an official communiqué, the terms of which were not settled till just before its issue, though its substance had been communicated to Gandhi. The main part of the interviews between Reading and Gandhi concerned the various causes of discontent in India, including the disturbances in the Punjab, the Khilafat agitation, and the Treaty of Sèvres. Gandhi did not submit any scheme of swaraj, nor was any such scheme discussed.

(Typed. Formally issued in the name of the Viceroy.)