CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND INDIA
The Transfer of Power 1942—7
Volume XII The Mountbatten Viceroyalty Princes, Partition and Independence
7 1
8 July — 15 August 1947
Editor-in-Chief
NICHOLAS MANSERGH, Litt.D, F.B.A.
Editor
PENDEREL MOON, M.A.
HER MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE
This, the concluding volume in the Series, provides a graphic account of events and controversies surrounding the last momentous days of the British Raj. It is chiefly based upon the records of the India Office, the Cabinet and its India Committee and, like the two immediately preceding volumes, draws freely upon the wealth of material in the Mountbatten archive. Most of the documents it contains are published for the first time.
The documentary narrative opens with the resolution of two outstanding questions — the appointment to the Governor-Generalship of India and the reconstitution of the Interim Government. On the first, the Viceroy informed his Staff Meeting on 9 July that taking into account the messages encouraging acceptance which he had received from the King, the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition, he had finally, though with condnuing unease, decided to accept the Governor-Generalship of India alone. On the second, which the Viceroy described as ‘my worst headache to date’, a plan was devised and subsequently implemented on 19 July, the day after the enactment of the Indian Independence Bill, which provided for the creation of two provisional governments, ministers in each holding separate portfolios for their future jurisdictional areas.
The volume contains substantial documentation on problems of law and order, principally relating to the Punjab. Amidst mounting communal tension one factor constantly underlined was the likelihood of violent protest by the Sikhs as the seemingly inevitable division of their homeland drew nearer. As a precautionary measure, the Viceroy instructed the Commander-in-Chief to prepare a plan to deal with disturbances in the neighbourhood of the boundaries of the two dominions. A Boundary Force was established on 1 August but on 12 August, after the outbreak of serious disorders in Lahore, the Governor reported that its strength was ‘not adequate to present and future tasks’. The Governor’s gloomy assessment, together with his reports that terrorist activities were on the increase and that the police in Lahore and Amritsar were unreliable, gave a forewarning of the magnitude of the impending crisis in the Punjab.
The documents shed new light on various aspects of the work of the Boundary Commission, notably the Viceroy’s dissociation from the Commission’s proceedings and the requests submitted by the Governors of Bengal and the Punjab for advance information on the date and contents of the provincial awards. The report of the Commission may be read in conjunction with the minutes of the meeting on 16 August over which Lord Mountbatten presided and at which the awards were disclosed to the representatives of the new governments.
With the encouragement, specially of the Congress leadership, the future relationship of the Princely States with the successor dominions became a major preoccupation of the Viceroy in the last weeks before transfer. Late in July he addressed a conference of Rulers and Representatives of the States and explained why it was in the Princes’ interests to accede to the neighbouring dominion on Defence, External Affairs and Communications. Subsequent documentation reveals how Travancore succumbed in the face of pressure from the local States’ People’s movement, how a number of Princes prevaricated (the Viceroy describing their behaviour as ‘extraordinary’) before signing the Instrument of Accession, how, in the c^se of Kashmir, Nehru was persuaded to forego a visit in favour of Gandhi and the Maharaja, having dismissed his Dewan, decided to defer a decision on accession, and finally how the question of Hyderabad remained unresolved when paramountcy lapsed on 15 August.
The reader will find an outline narrative of these and other key events in the Viceroy’s weekly Personal Reports. The last Report, dated 16 August, includes a vivid account of the tumultuous scenes which accompanied the Independence Day celebrations in Delhi, an occasion which moved the Viceroy to write that 15 August had turned out to be ‘the most remarkable and inspiring day of my life’.
For a list of the Volumes already published see back . £70 net
V
THE TRANSFER OF POWER
1942-7
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Public.Resource.Org
*
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Midnight 14-15 August 1947. Pandit Nehru addressing the Indian Constituent Assembly. Document 489, para. 61.
CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND INDIA
THE TRANSFER OF POWER
1942-7
Volume XII The Mountbatten Viceroyalty Princes, Partition and Independence 8 July — 15 August 1947
Editor-in-Chiej
NICHOLAS MANSERGH, Litt.D., F.B.A.
Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge
Editor
PENDEREL MOON, M. A.
Assisted by
DAVID M. BLAKE, M.A., M.Litt. and STEPHEN R. ASHTON, B.A., Ph.D.
LONDON
HER MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE
© Crown Copyright 1983 f First published 1983
CANCELLED
ISBN 011 580087 5*
Printed in England for Her Majesty’s Stationery Office by Eyre & Spottiswoode Ltd, Thanet Press, Margate, Kent
CONTENTS
Foreword Page vii
Introduction to Volume XII xi
Abbreviations xxxiii
Principal Holders of Office xxxv
Chronological Table of Principal Events xxxix
Summary of Documents xli
Documents i
Glossary 784
Appendix I Supplementary Documentation 787
Appendix II Errata et Corrigenda 808
Index of Persons 813
Index of Subjects 838
ILLUSTRATIONS
Frontispiece
Midnight 14-15 August 1947. Pandit Nehru addressing the Indian Constituent Assembly. Document 489, para. 61. ( Nehru Memorial Museum and Library )
Between pages 330 and 331
Lord Mountbatten as Crown Representative addressing a Conference of Rulers and Representatives of Indian States, 25 July 1947. Document 234. (Press Secretary to the President of India )
Mr Jinnah and Lord Mountbatten leaving the Pakistan Constituent Assembly, Karachi, 14 August 1947. Document 489, para. 57. ( Trustees of the Broadlands
Archives Settlement)
MAPS
At end oj volume India before Partition Partition Boundaries in the Punjab Partition Boundaries in Bengal and Assam
Foreword
On 9 March 1966 the Prune Minister, Mr Harold Wilson, announced in the House of Commons that the closed period for official records was to be reduced from fifty to thirty years. He stated that the Government also proposed that the range of Official Histories, which had hitherto been confined to the two great wars, should be extended to include selected periods or episodes of peace¬ time history and considered that there was scope for extending to other Oversea Departments the Foreign Office practice of publishing selected documents relating to external relations. The Prime Minister hoped that both of these subsidiary proposals, supplementing the reduction in the closed period to thirty years, would be acceptable in principle to the Opposition parties, who would be associated with their implementation.1
On 10 August 1966 the Prime Minister announced that a standing inter¬ party group of Privy Counsellors was to be appointed to consider all such proposals2 and on 8 June 1967 that its members were, for the Government and to act as Chairman, the Right Hon. Patrick Gordon Walker, Minister without Portfolio ; for the Official Opposition, the Right Hon. Sir Alec Douglas-Home ; and for the Liberal party, Lord Ogmore.3
A project to publish documents from the India Office Records had been under discussion for some years and on 30 June 1967 the Prime Minister, in replying to a written question in the House of Commons, announced that the first of the new series of selected documents to be published was to relate to the Transfer of Power in India. His statement was as follows:
As I informed the House on the 9th of March 1966, the Government have decided to extend to other Oversea Departments the Foreign Office practice of publishing selected documents concerned with our external relations, subject to inter-party agreement through the Group of Privy Counsellors whose composition I announced on the 8 th of June. I am happy to inform the House that the Group have agreed that in view of the great interest now being shown in historical circles in the last days of British rule in India the first selection of documents to be published under the new arrangements should be documents from the India Office records on the Transfer of Power and the events leading up to it.
The scheme will follow closely the lines of the Foreign Office series of Documents on British Foreign Policy from 1919 to 1939, and, as in that series, the editors will be independent historians who will be given unrestricted access to the records and freedom to select and edit documents for publication. Professor P. N. S. Mansergh, Smuts Professor of the History of the British Commonwealth at Cambridge, has expressed willingness to accept appoint-
1 Pari. Debs., 5th ser., H. of C., vol. 725, Written Answers to Questions, cols. 561-3.
2 Ibid., vol. 733, cols. 1706-7. 3 Ibid., vol. 747, col. 1291.
Vlll
FOREWORD
ment as Editor-in-Chief and die scheme will be in full operadon by die end of die year.4
Mr E. W. R. Lumby was appointed Assistant Editor and fulfilled the duties of that office until his death on 23 January 1972, by which time the first three volumes in the Series had been published and the fourth was in an advanced stage of preparation.
Sir Penderel Moon, O.E.E., sometime Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, has served as Editor since September 1972 when Volume IV was about to go to press and the editing of Volume V to begin.
Mr D. M. Blake, who from the time of his appointment in March 1968, assisted in the assembly, selection and preparation of documents for publication resigned in July 1981 to take up appointment as Senior Research Assistant, European Manuscripts Section in the India Office Library and Records. The Editors would like to place on record their warm appreciation of Mr Blake’s many contributions to the work of the Historical Section, which included the preliminary selection of documents for inclusion in this as in earlier volumes, in the thirteen years in which he was a member of it.
Dr S. R. Ashton joined the Historical Section in March, 1981, and in respect of this last volume in the series, has taken over responsibilities earlier discharged by Mr Blake or Dr Carter. The Editors would like to place on record their indebtedness to him.
The Editors have pleasure in thanking Miss L. Atkin and Mrs C. F. Catlow who have done the typing necessary for the production of the Volume.
The series covers the period 1 January 1942 to 15 August 1947. The subtitles and dates of publication of earlier volumes are as follows :
Volume I Volume II Volume III
Volume IV
Volume V
Volume VI
Volume VII Volume VIII
The Cripps Mission January- April 1942
‘Quit India’ 30 April-21 September 1942
Reassertion of authority, Gandhi’s fast and the succession to the Viceroyalty 21 September 1942-12 June 1943
The Bengal Famine and the New Viceroyalty 15 June 1943-31 August 1944
The Simla Conference: Background and Proceedings 1 September 1944-28 July 1945
The post-war phase: new moves by the Labour Government 1 August 1945-22 March 1946
The Cabinet Mission 23 March-29 June 1946
The Interim Government 3 July-i November 1946
(1970)
(i97i)
(i97i)
(i973)
(i975)
(1976)
(i977)
(i979)
FOREWORD
ix
V olume IX The fixing of a time limit 4 November 1946- (1980)
22 March 1947
Volume X The Mountbatten Viceroyalty : Formulation of a (1981)
Plan 22 March-30 May 1947
Volume XI Tha Mountbatten Viceroyalty : Announcement (1982)
And Reception of the 3 June Plan 31 May-7 July 1947
The principles of selection, the arrangement of documents — which is in chronological order throughout in so far as that has been ascertainable — together with other details of presentation were explained in the Foreword to the first Volume (pp. vi-x) with some further comments on particular points added in the Foreword to Volume III (pp. viii-xii). There is no need, therefore, to recapitulate what has been written on these matters here.
Two appendices relating to the Series as a whole have, however, been in¬ cluded in Volume XII. The first, entitled Supplementary Documentation , contains documents which, had they been available to the Editors at the time, would almost certainly have been reproduced at the appropriate places in the appropriate volumes as indicated in the footnotes appended to them; the title of the second, Errata et Corrigenda , sufficiently explains its purpose.
Finally it may be worthwhile restating the purpose of the Series and its scope. The former may be briefly defined. It has been to make available to scholars in convenient printed form documents relating to the formulation and execution of policies on the transfer of power from the India Office, the Cabinet’s India Committee and the Cabinet’s records at the London end, and from those of successive Viceroys and their advisers in New Delhi. The latter, the scope of the series, may be thought to require more elaboration. The phrase, ‘the Transfer of Power and the events leading up to it’ used by the Prime Minister, Mr (now Sir) Harold Wilson, on 30 June 1967, 5 while re¬ quiring construction by the editors in respect of the point of historical departure [see Volume I, pp. v-vi] imposed no such responsibility upon them in respect of a closing date. That was determined with a precision rare in history by the time of Transfer, midnight on 14-15 August 1947. This is something to which the editors in this last volume have paid rigorous regard. While for purposes of clarification or the rounding off of the record of some transactions, a few footnotes, an annexure [see No. 264] and three documents — the minutes of the meeting; of Lord Mountbatten with the India and Pakistan leaders on 16 August to receive the awards of the Boundary Commission [No. 487], the Viceroy’s last weekly letter to the Secretary of State and his last Personal Report [Nos. 488 and 489] covering the week ending 15 August but dated 1 6 August — have been added, the editors have otherwise observed the
t> 1
4 Pari Debs., 5th ser., H. of C., vol. 749, Written Answers to Questions, cols. 147-8.
5 See above, note 4.
X
FOREWORD
limitation in time implicit in their brief. The documentary narrative which opens with a Governor’s report dated i January 1942 on heightened Indian anticipation of internal political developments following upon the Japanese entry into the war [Vol. I, No. 1], accordingly ends with the last Viceroy’s account of the tumultuous scenes that ushered in the day of transfer. With that, and after fifteen years, the task which the Prime Minister assigned to the Editors, and those who have assisted them, is fulfilled.
N. MANSERGH
Historical Section Lidia Office Records June 1982
Introduction to Volume XII
The concluding volume in the Series runs from 8 July to the midnight hour on 14-15 August, 1947 and the reader will find what the Secretary of State described [No. 402] as an ‘immensely valuable’, ‘enthrallingly interesting’ outline narrative of events in the Viceroy’s weekly Personal Reports [Nos. 65, 162, 328, 302, 385 and 489].
At the outset of the period an early transfer of power on the basis of dominion status and partition, as outlined in the 3 June Plan [see Vol. XI, Nos. 23 and 39], had been accepted, or acquiesced in, by the principal Indian parties and leaders (Gandhi’s attitude, however, remaining equivocal) [Vol. XI, Nos. 24, 27, 35, 36 and 38] : at its close, power was duly transferred on the appointed day into Indian and Pakistani hands. In the intervening weeks many things needed to be done to prepare not merely for transference but for transference with all the complications of partition of territory and division of resources, while coin¬ cidentally government at the centre and in the provinces, at a time of heighten¬ ing tension in the areas likely to be most closely affected, had to be carried on. Of basic importance on the longer term were the passing of the necessary legislation for transfer of power at Westminster, matters related to it and the Report of the Boundary Commission (not published till 16 August); on the middle ternr the restructuring of government at the centre, in the provinces, the Punjab and Bengal, that were to be divided and possibly also in the North- West Frontier Province, whose future allegiance still remained to be deter¬ mined by referendum; while looming very large on the near horizon were grave decisions on the provision to be made for the maintenance of law and order at a time when the armed forces were being divided and British troops about to be withdrawn.
Before indicating the nature of the documentation on these and other topics arising directly or indirectly from the 3 June Plan, mention should be made of another matter of importance that lay outside its scope, namely the future relationship of the Princely States with the successor dominions on the lapse of paramountcy on 1 5 August. Hitherto this was something that had remained on the perimeter of discussion, the Viceroy noting on n July: ‘I must freely admit that I have not been able to grip this States problem before’ [No. 65, para. 34]. Now, with the imminence of transfer, it moved towards the centre of the stage and, as will be later elaborated, up to one fifth of the documenta¬ tion in this volume bears upon it.
The draft Indian Independence Bill, with the amendments made as a result of the comments submitted by the Indian leaders, was reprinted in Volume XI [No. 428]. There were further exchanges of view on a proposal by Sir Benegal Ran, who entertained apprehensions more especially about the position of the petty States, for the amendment of the proviso to section 7(i)(b) of
Xll
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
the Bill relating to the powers of the States on the lapse of paramountcy, as well as one from the Congress pressing for a widening of the scope of the proviso by the inclusion of matters not already therein. The Viceroy, however, after discussion at his Fifty Fifth Staff Meeting on 9 July, at which Pandit Nehru indicated Congress party views, concluded that the arguments against amendment at that stage were ‘overriding’— ‘morally indefensible’ and ‘politically inexpedient’ were the terms used by the Political Adviser as repeated in the Viceroy’s telegram to the Secretary of State [Nos. 30 and 37, Item 2; for background see Vol. XI, Nos. 513, 559, 560 and, in this volume, No. 9]. The Secretary of State indicated his agreement with the Viceroy on 15 July No. 123], while on 17 July the Prime Minister wrote to Nehru saying that he lad discussed the suggested amendment to the clause in the Bill about the States with Krishna Menon, news of whose appointment as Fligh Commissioner in London [No. 74] he welcomed, but ‘with the best of good will could not accept what was proposed’ [No. 152]. There was complaint from another quarter, that of the Nizam of Flyderabad who, recalling that he had at no time been consulted about Clause 7, registered a protest at the proposed unilateral repudiation of Flyderabad’ s treaties with the Crown [No. 33; see also No. 39 for a proposal by the Secretary of State that the Prime Minister should make a statement on the position of the Princes].
It was accepted that there was need for a clarifying statement in respect of another provision of the bill. Members of Parliament, in the Prime Minister’s opinion as expressed in Cabinet on 8 July, would assume from the terms of section 5 that at the outset the new Dominions would share a common Governor-General. Since this was not to be the case [see Vol. XI, pp. xxix-xxx and No. 564] explanations would be needed, Lord Mountbatten furthermore being ‘most anxious’ that the position should be made known so that he would not be accused of partiality if he accepted the Congress invitation and so served as Governor-General of India alone [No. 10; for Ismay’s account of his meeting with the Prime Minister and members of the India Committee, see No. 14]. On 8 July the Prime Minister, who had already had consultations with Opposi¬ tion leaders and received a message encouraging acceptance from Churchill for Mountbatten [No. 26], sent a personal telegram to the Viceroy saying that he understood ‘very fully’ his (the Viceroy’s) feelings, that ‘obviously’ it would have been ‘much better if you had held both offices’ but in the situation as it was asking him ‘most earnestly’ to accept the Governor-Generalship of India as he (Attlee) believed ‘this to be essential if the transition is to go through smoothly’ [No. 27; see also No. 31 reporting the King’s conviction that Mountbatten should serve]. There followed the text of the relevant passage in the Prime Minister’s impending Statement to the House [No. 28]. The follow¬ ing day, 9 July, the Viceroy told his Staff Meeting that taking into account the messages he had received from the King, the Prime Minister and the leader of
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
Xlll
the Opposition he had finally, though with continuing unease, decided to accept the Governor-Generalship of India alone [No. 37, Item 1 ; see also No. 35 for his letter to Cripps]. This was duly conveyed to the Prime Minister with an expression of gratitude for all the thought the King, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Opposition had given to the question [No. 42]. The Prime Minister replied with a telegram in which he said ‘we are all delighted’ [No. 48] and in a later letter he remarked: ‘We are all very grateful to you for carrying on for this next stage. I am very conscious I put you in to bat on a very sticky wicket . . . few, if any, could have pulled the game round as you have’ [No. 153].
The Indian Independence Bill received the Royal Assent on 18 July, two days ahead of time, as Krishna Menon noted in his letter to the Viceroy [No. 167], and with both Secretary of State and Prime Minister paying tribute to the co-operative attitude of the Opposition in making this possible [Nos. 153, 166, para. 15 and, for Mountbatten’s reaction, see No. 237]. The text of the Act is reprinted in No. 164 and the Royal Assent reported in No. 165.
The passing of the Act and the determining of the date thereof had a bearing upon government at the Centre. The Congress had already strongly urged that the Interim Government should be forthwith restructured, preferably on the ‘Bengal model’ [see Vol. XI, pp. xxiii-xxiv and Nos. 354, 367, Case No. P.C. 1/1/47, 409, 410], a course to which the League was vehemently opposed on the dual ground that it would be ‘humiliating’ for them as well as legally un¬ tenable, contending per contra that the Interim government should remain in existence till the time of the transfer ‘a few weeks hence’ [see Vol. XI, pp. xxiii-xxiv and ibid., Nos. 367, Case No. P.C. 1/1/47 and 506, paras. 9 and 10]. The Viceroy, confronted by Congress-League differences which, he later re¬ marked, made the reconstitution of the Interim Cabinet ‘my worst headache to date’ [No. 162, para. 10], accepted that ‘the later I could put this [reconstitu¬ tion] off the easier for Jinnah but the worse for Nehru’ and concluded that it could be deferred but not beyond the date of the enactment of the Indian Independence Bill [No. 8].
Reconstitution of the Interim Government required the resignations of existing members and on 4 July the Viceroy had asked for them [Vol. XI, No. 493, Case No. 171/33/47]. By 8 July he had received those of the Congress members : from the League, some of whose members were away because of the referenda in the North-West Frontier Province and Sylhet, only an enquiry as to the nature of the new proposals [Nos. 8, 12, Item 3, and 21]. There followed a rather difficult interview’ with Jinnah that evening (8 July), the Viceroy reporting Jinnah as having said that ‘all League Members of Cabinet are extremely bitter at this deliberate humiliation being inflicted on them ... by the Congress’ and ‘are considering refusing to resign in order to force me to dismiss them’ but that they had not yet decided their courses of action [No. 24;
1
XIV
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
see also No. 21]. On 9-10 July the Viceroy, sensitive to his own position should he, the Governor-General designate of the new India, be forced to dismiss the League members and redistribute their portfolios to Congressmen, instructed his staff to look into ways in which two completely separate governments might hold office, each for the areas to come under its future jurisdiction, for the three weeks remaining before 15 August [Nos. 32 and 51]. Patel, who had asked that ‘the Muslim officials in the government of India should be got rid of as soon as possible’, was reported as not unfavourable to such a solution [Nos. 53 and 63], while Krishna Menon sent a note on how it might work [No. 54 and its note 1]. On 11 July the Viceroy conveyed to Pandit Nehru and Patel his intention of proceeding with reconstitution on this basis, ie with two groups of ministers representing the two successor govern¬ ments, each holding separate portfolios for their future jurisdictional areas. Were both parties to agree ‘we shall’, the Viceroy reported the same day, ‘have got over by far the most difficult hurdle we have had to jump so far’ [Nos. 63, 65, para. 18 and 76, Item 1 for Nehru’s and Patel’s reactions]. The following day he discussed the proposed reconstitution, which would avoid the need for League resignations, with Jinnah who, however, ‘did not appear particularly grateful’ [No. 82].
The purposes to be served by reconstitution were indicated at a Staff Meeting on the morning of 14 July [No. 99] and the draft of an Order in Council authorising it was laid before a further Staff Meeting that evening [No. 108, Item 1]. The Order provided formally for the immediate constitution of a Provisional Government for each of the new dominions by which the Viceroy might be advised on matters affecting each of them. On 15 July the Viceroy made known to Jinnah and Liaquat his intention of proceeding in this way, pointing out that he was empowered to do so under clause 9 of the Indian Independence Bill [No. 112]. The last meeting of the old Interim Government took place on 16 July, the Viceroy explaining to members that he thought it proper that each of the new dominions should have its own embryo govern¬ ment immediately on enactment of the Indian Independence Bill [see No. 116 for an explanatory note by the Viceroy, together with the text of the draft Order and the draft communique to be issued with it; No. 127 for the discussion (on 16 July) at the Indian Cabinet; No. 147 for the reactions and detailed comments of the Secretary of State; No. 155 for the text of the communique as issued and No. 170 for that of the Executive Council (Transitional Provisions) Order, 1947].
On 19 July Nehru, after consultation with his colleagues, conveyed to the Viceroy recommendations, described as provisional, for the members of the Congress-India part of the reconstituted government [No. 172] and Liaquat Ali Khan duly confirmed League nominations for portfolios in the provisional Government of Pakistan [No. 173].
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
XV
The volume contains substantial documentation on problems of law and order, principally relating to the Punjab, which the Viceroy wrote of on n July as a ‘most unsettled’ province, though there had been an ‘unexpected’ outbreak of disorder in Calcutta in early July [No. 65, paras. 2 and 3]. The Governor of Bengal, who had taken certain precautionary measures, none¬ theless remained hopeful that he would be able to jolly along’ with his ‘odd ministry’ until 15 August [No. 65, paras. 5-7]. On 16 July the Viceroy, having received enquiries from Nehru, asked for an appreciation of the situation in the province bearing in mind Congress fears lest the League might wreck Calcutta before handing the city over to the dominion of India [No. 138]. The Governor sent a cautiously reassuring reply on 18 July [No. 161], the substance of which was conveyed to Nehru on 21 July [No. 193]. The Viceroy visited Calcutta on 30-31 July chiefly to discuss matters before the Bengal Separation Committee which, in Abell’s opinion, had started work ‘amicably and well’ [No. 16] but had since got into difficulties [No. 203, para. 4]. He also had con¬ sultations with the Premier, H.S. Suhrawardy, P.C. Ghosh (representing the embryonic government of West Bengal) and Army and District Commanders on security arrangements in the course of which reassurances were given in particular about their ability to protect Calcutta [Nos. 287, 289, 290 and 291; see also No. 364].
The situation in the Punjab, which continued under Governor’s rule, despite intermittent proposals for the formation of a Ministry which the Governor deemed too risky in the circumstances to adopt, gave rise to altogether more disturbing reports, one factor constantly underlined being the possibly violent reactions of the Sikhs as the seemingly inevitable division of their homeland drew nearer. On 8 July Reuter’s Indian Service carried reports of the Sikhs’ ‘protest day of prayer’ with congregations approving a resolution that any ‘partition that did not secure the integrity and solidarity of the Sikhs would be unacceptable’ and with Baldev Singh saying — though he later disputed this without, however, carrying conviction to the Viceroy [No. 65, para 9] — that the Sikhs should be prepared to make ‘all sacrifices’ if ‘the verdict of the Boundary Commission went against them’ [No. 17]. On 10 July the Governor sent the Viceroy an account of a conversation with Giani Kartar Singh who was ‘extremely frank about the intentions of the Sikhs . . . what he said con¬ firms my view that they mean to make trouble if the decision based on the Boundary Commission’s Report is not to their liking’, and he concluded that with ‘everyone behaving as though they had just been at war and were going to have a new war within a few weeks’ there was little prospect of the only solution that would give the two new provinces a peaceful start, namely ‘a settlement out of court’ [No. 56; see also No. 67 for further expressions of Sikh views].
On 12 July Sir George Abell, after a long talk with the Governor, reported
XVI
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
on the situation in the Punjab remarking, inter alia , 'there is no doubt the Sikhs are in a dangerous mood’. With regard to other matters he expressed surprise at the extent the representatives of the successor authorities were ‘already consulted and allowed to have their way about all matters other than law and order’, felt that partition work, though proceeding slowly, was more advanced than in Bengal, and remained convinced that there should be no attempt to form a Ministry [No. 8 1] . An appreciation by the Governor was attached.
On 13 July the Governor, in his capacity as Chairman of the Punjab Partition Committee, submitted memoranda prepared by the representatives of West and East Punjab on matters on which they had been unable to agree, of which the most important was the question whether the East Punjab Government should leave Lahore if the Boundary Commission award had not been published and the notional boundary still prevailed on 15 August, and which they desired to have laid formally before the Viceroy for decision by the Partition Council [Nos. 89 and 90]. This was done on 17 July, the Viceroy indicating that he would shortly visit Lahore to help the Provincial Partition Committee on how best to deal with the matters in dispute [No. 148, Case No. P.C. 56/6/47].
At its meeting the Central Partition Council also had before it a plan prepared by the Commander-in-Chief at the request of the Viceroy [No. 102; see No. 88 for a record of a discussion between Nehru and General Sir A. Smith] to deal with possible clashes or disturbances along the boundaries of the two Dominions after 15 August. The plan envisaged that a Joint Defence Council would have the authority of both the Indian and Pakistan governments to declare any affected districts ‘disturbed areas’ and, when this had been done, the Supreme Commander on the request of the Joint Defence Council would appoint a British Commander vested with military control and supplied with a suffi¬ ciency of forces to restore order. Similar arrangements were proposed for the period before 15 August and to apply in Bengal, where very serious trouble was not anticipated apart possibly from Calcutta, as well as in the Punjab [No. 102]. The Partition Council approved these recommendations and agreed that Major General Rees be appointed as Joint Commander on behalf of both dominions controlling all forces in such disturbed areas and that the Joint Defence Council should be constituted so as to meet in a preliminary way by the first week of August [No. 148, Case No. P.C. 47/6/47 — in fact the Council met for the first timeon 26 July and again on 29 July, see below pp. xvii and xxv] . The Viceroy deemed it essential that the two Dominions should make it clear they took full responsibility for the association of British officers in this task and said he would have a draft statement prepared on this point and also giving assurances to minorities [No. 148; see also Nos. 283 and 339].
The Viceroy’s visit to Lahore took place on 20 July and at a meeting with the Punjab Partition Committee it was agreed in respect of unresolved questions that the Government of East Punjab should move all unessential personnal to
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
XVII
Simla by io August with the remnant to follow by midnight on 14-15 August, were Lahore to be placed in West Punjab. On his return to Delhi the Viceroy further reported to the Partition Council on 22 July that all the members of the Committee had declared their parties would accept and abide by the decision of the Boundary Commission and had agreed to issue and sign a statement reassuring minorities and warning against disturbances [No. 228, paras. 6-14; but see Nos. 272, 292, end., 302, para. 10, 305 and 306 for Sikh failure to do so]. The Council itself approved the draft of a Statement declaring the determination of the new dominion governments to establish peaceful conditions and re¬ affirming earlier assurances of Congress and League on fair and equitable treatment of minorities after transfer. To safeguard peace in the Punjab during the period of change-over, the members of the Council confirmed their agreement to the setting up of a special military command from 1 August to cover listed civil districts in the Punjab under the command of Major-General Rees who after 15 August would be responsible through the Supreme Com¬ mander and the Joint Defence Council to the two Governments. Both Governments pledged themselves in advance, to accept the Boundary Com¬ mission’s awards ‘whatever these may be’ [Nos. 205, Case Nos. P.C. 74/8/47 and 81/8/47 and 224].
Despite military provision and the strongly worded declaration, information from the Punjab was no more reassuring. The Governor, concerned at news of a forthcoming Diwan at one of the Sikh shrines, Nankana Sahib (in fact it ‘fizzled out’, No. 272), advised Swaran Singh that the Sikhs should dismiss from their minds any idea of large territorial gains [No. 238]. But on 27 July in¬ formation was received of Sikh intentions of starting trouble on a big scale if Nankana Sahib were not included in East Punjab, together with reports of Muslim counter-preparations and of an attempt to subvert troops, all of which were referred to the Provisional Joint Defence Council on 29 July. In the mean¬ time the Governor had telegraphed on 27 July that the general situation was worsening and had followed this up with a detailed report in the course of which he commented that ‘feeling in Lahore is perhaps worse than it has ever been’ [Nos. 250, 254, 276, Case No. J.D.C. 11/2/47 and 292]. On 30 July the Viceroy, in the light of the Provisional Joint Defence Council discussion on 29 July, informed the Governor that he had been asked to instruct him to declare districts likely to be affected on either side of the Boundary ‘disturbed areas’ for the period 1 to 15 August, 1 August being the day on which the Boundary Force was to come into being [Nos. 286 and 299]. ‘There is going to be trouble with the Sikhs’ the Governor’s Secretary telephoned that day (1 August), adding ‘when and how bad the Governor cannot yet say [No. 306]. On 4 August Nehru made certain suggestions which the Viceroy passed on to the Governor and wrote of the apprehension with which, in the ‘very tense’ atmosphere in Lahore, 15 August was awaited [No. 331; for the Governor’s
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INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
rejoinder endorsed by the Viceroy, see No. 34]. The same day the Governor sent to the Viceroy a detailed memorandum, for which the Viceroy had asked on 20 July, refuting the criticisms [see eg Vol. XI, Nos. 218 and 338, Case No. 1 5 5/32/47] which had been levelled at the Punjab government for their handling of the disturbances in the Province in 1947 [No. 337; for the Viceroy’s observations, see No. 408].
A fresh issue was opened for decision with the Governor’s despatch of a cryptic message to the Viceroy on 4 August [No. 338] followed on 5 August by a meeting at which Jinnah, Liaquat and Patel were present together with a Police Officer from the Punjab who conveyed information allegedly impli¬ cating Tara Singh in terrorist activities. The Viceroy with the concurrence of those present concluded that he should recommend to the Governor of the Punjab the arrest of Master Tara Singh and other ringleaders about the time of the Boundary Commission’s Award [Nos. 345, 346, 359, para. 2 and 361]. Jinnah, who favoured immediate action, agreed by way of compromise [No. 379]. The recommendation was not acted upon for reasons which were set out in a letter of 9 August from the Governor to the Viceroy [No. 403]. With the situation ‘most serious’ the Governor, who was satisfied ‘everything possible is being done with the resources available’, asked for reinforcements of a specific nature for the Punjab Boundary Force to which the Viceroy re¬ sponded helpfully [Nos. 382 and 404].
The outbreak of serious disorders on 12 August in Lahore where ‘feeling is now unbelievably bad’ led the Governor to report bleakly that the strength of the Boundary Force is ‘not adequate to present and future tasks’. He further reported that police in Lahore and Amritsar were now unreliable and that the railways would not be safe unless the army could take over ‘war Department’ lines [Nos. 437 and 448]. On the following two days he sent reports of attacks on two trains and of a deteriorating and most unsatisfactory situation [Nos. 466 and 484]. Finally on 14 August Field Marshal Auchinleck visited Lahore and reported on the situation in the Punjab Boundary Force area to the Joint Defence Council [No. 486].
In the North-W est Frontier Province threats to law and order, discounted by the Viceroy [No. 228, para. 5] were associated by the Congress with the holding of the referendum to determine the future allegiance of the Province [for background, see Vol. XI, pp. xxi-xxii and documents referred to therein]. According to the 3 June Plan the choice was two-fold — the participation of the Province in the existing Indian or in the contemplated Pakistani Constituent Assembly. Renewed representations made to the Governor by Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Dr Khan Sahib, the premier, for the addition of a third option, namely an autonomous Pathan State, [see Voll XI, p. xxii and, in this volume, No. 130] were not taken up by the Viceroy and the Redshirt intention to abstain from voting remained. Expressions of Afghan interest were consistently
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
XIX
discountenanced [Nos. 70, 132, 136, 142; also 177, 321 and 348 for an account of the Foreign Secretary’s conversation with the Afghan Prime Minister]. In anticipation of the outcome of the referendum the Acting-Governor outlined on 9 July in the light of discussions with party leaders, the courses likely to be open to him after the outcome was known. Given Dr Khan Sahib’s ‘emphatic’ view that there could be no question of a coalition — ‘his party could never work with the Muslim League’ — and so allow ‘a correct constitutional solution’, the Acting-Governor indicated he would seek the Viceroy’s permission to dismiss the Ministry and govern under Section 93 [No. 45]. The Viceroy, however, was clear that in this matter he should act on the advice of the embryo government of Pakistan [No. 76, Item 5]. On 12 July he sounded out Jinnah, who favoured dismissal of the Ministry and Section 93, the Viceroy himself being ‘dead against’ Section 93 [No. 82]. In replying to the Acting-Governor the Viceroy further noted that ‘the whole context’ had been altered by the fact that Jinnah would be Governor-General of Pakistan [No. 101].
The result of the referendum, with members of Congress abstaining, was 289, 244 votes for Pakistan, 2,874 for India, the votes for Pakistan being 50.49 per cent of the total electorate [No. 187]. The Viceroy recorded his satisfaction that in fact there had been no violence and also that, with over half the electorate in favour of Pakistan, the result was clear cut [No. 228, paras, 2-4]. On 20 July the Acting-Governor sought permission, if Ministers refused to resign, to dismiss them and himself to assume power under Section 93 [No. 188]. The Viceroy, however, adhered to his decision to seek the advice of the Pakistan Executive Council and did so on 1 August [No. 301]. The Viceroy was invited by the Council either to ask the existing ministry to resign and to call on the leader of the Muslim League to form a new Ministry or to approve the Province being placed under Section 93. The Viceroy responded by saying that which¬ ever course he adopted he would first have to satisfy himself as to its constitu¬ tionality and, on 5 August, he sought advice from the Secretary of State [No. 342; see also Nos. 363, 374 and 381]. On 8 August the Secretary of State replied casting doubt on the constitutionality (as distinct from the legality) of either course and favoured leaving the problem to be resolved after 15 August [No. 387]. There the new Governor, Sir George Cunningham, taking office on 13 August, persuaded Jinnah to let the matter rest [Nos. 481 with end. and 489, para. 28].
A referendum was also held in Sylhet on the question of joining East Bengal or remaining in Assam, the result of which showed a majority of 55,578 in favour of the former [No. 92]. There were allegations of irregularities made to Nehru and passed on by him to the Viceroy and the Governor into which the Governor made enquiry, Nehru being satisfied as a result that such as they were, they were not on a scale to have affected the result [No. 94, 95, 98 and
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107]. The Viceroy had also received complaints of interference from Jinnah [No. 98].
As had already been mentioned the future relationship of the Princely States to the new dominions became a major preoccupation of the Viceroy and the party leaders in the last weeks before transfer. The States, as may be recalled, [for background see Vol. XI, pp. xxvii and xxviii] lay outside the scope of the 3 June Plan, but the Cabinet Mission’s memorandum of 12 May, 1946, was, as the Viceroy later noted, specifically quoted in the Statement and publicly accepted by both parties [Vol. VII, No. 262 and, in this volume, No. 65, para. 26] while members of the States Negotiating Committee were told by the Viceroy that evening, ie of 3 June, that paramountcy would lapse on transfer thereby rendering negotiations with the new dominions possible ‘on a basis of complete freedom’ [Vol. XI, No. 43]. At a meeting on 13 June with the Indian leaders it was agreed that a new ‘States Department’ should be set up to deal with matters arising and of common concern [Vol. XI, Nos. 175, Item I and 197]. This was approved by the Indian Cabinet on 25 June [Vol. XI, No. 338, Case No. 152/32/47] with Patel being appointed as Member in charge, V.P. Menon as Secretary and Akhtar Hussain as ‘Pakistan’ Deputy Secretary [No. 65, para, 27]. On 9 July it was further agreed that Sardar Nishtar should have access to the Secretary of the States Department [No. 37, Item 2], an arrangement which laid the groundwork for the Pakistan States Department, the establishment of which would be facilitated, as the Viceroy advised Nishtar on 17 July, by the splitting up of the government [No. 150; see also No. 15 1 for a note by V.P. Menon on the States with which Pakistan was concerned and in which it was noted that Kalat, a frontier state, ‘ought really to go into Pakistan’ while Kashmir represented ‘some difficulty’].
The British Government welcomed the setting up of the States Department because, as the Secretary of State put it on 9 July in the draft of a statement to be made by the Prime Minister when introducing the Indian Independence Bill in the House of Commons, it was H.M.G.’s hope that all States would ‘find their appropriate place within one or other of the new Dominions within the British Commonwealth’ and its belief that it would be retrograde and contrary to the interests of the two successor Dominions, as of the States themselves, were they to become islands cut off from India of which they were a geographical part. At the same time, so the Secretary of State suggested in his draft, the Prime Minister might remind the House of the terms of the Cabinet Mission’s memorandum of 12 May 1946 to the effect that since H.M.G. would not and could not in any circumstances transfer paramountcy to an Indian government, it would be necessary to terminate paramountcy and the suzerainty of the Crown over the Indian States and might further outline the consequent international position of non-acceding States after 15 August [No. 39]. V.P. Menon, however, was much disturbed by the possibility of the
. u
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
XXI
Prime Minister making any such statement. ‘The present plan to which we are working’, he wrote ‘is that at the forthcoming conference of States representa¬ tives the first proposal which we intend to make is that the States should join immediately on three subjects, namely External Affairs, Defence and Com¬ munications’. Several states had already done so while important negotiations were pending with the major states of Hyderabad, Mysore and Travancore. Even ‘an inkling’, such as the Secretary of State’s draft might afford, thatH.M.G. might accord independent recognition would make ‘infinitely more difficult’ all attempts to bring the States and the new Dominions together and would be regarded in India as an attempt to retain British influence over the States [No. i]. On 8 July, Menon received reassurance that the paragraphs concerning the international position of the States would not be included in the Commons Statement [No. 23; see also No. 39]. On 12 July the Viceroy advised the Secretary of State that any attempt by Parliament to define the international position of non-acceding States would be premature [No. 85].
At this juncture there were expressions of concern from Congress about the future of the States, with Gandhi urging the Viceroy to do everything in his power to ensure that the British did not leave a legacy of Balkanisation [No. 43 ] and Baldev Singh raising the problem of the supply of arms to the States [No. 66]. Upon enquiry from Nehru and Patel as to ‘what he was going to do to help India in connection with her most pressing difficulty — relations with the States’, the Viceroy replied that he would now make the cause of agreement his own, the more so as the Indian leaders had stated that the States need only join the Centre on the three main central subjects listed in the Cabinet Mission Plan [Nos. 37, Item 2 and 65, paras. 29 and 30]. At the invitation of the Congress leaders he assumed responsibility for the conduct of negotiations with the Princes in the first instance, as he made clear to Sir Walter Monckton, the Nizam’s adviser, on 8 July and also to Gandhi [Nos. 11, 37, Item 2 and 43].
States were informed on 8 July that accession on the three subjects would be on the Agenda for the meeting of Rulers and their Representatives to be held later in the month, 25 July being the date subsequently determined [No. 2; see also No. 75]. In the period between the Viceroy was active in seeking to persuade the rulers of States individually to consider the action they should take in their States’ and their own individual interests.
In conference with the representatives of Hyderabad on 11 July, the Viceroy agreed that there was ‘no shadow of doubt that the legal position was that the States would be absolutely free after 15 August’, but on behalf of H.M.G. he ruled out the possibility on practical and political grounds of Dominion Status for Hyderabad, as had been sought, and urged, per contra , acceptance by Hyderabad of adherence on the three central subjects. While Sir Walter Monckton and the Nawab of Chhatari emphasised that the Nizam would have great difficulty in taking any course likely ‘to compromise his independent
XXII
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
sovereignty’ the Viceroy prophesied disastrous results in five or ten years if his advice were not taken [No. 61]. On 13 July Jinnah, with special reference to Kashmir, reiterated his opinion that the Indian States were free to join either Constituent Assembly or to remain independent [No. 87]. On the same day the Dewan of Travancore, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyer, to some of whose earlier observations Nehru had reacted sharply [No. 6], conveyed a message to the State Department to the effect that the problems of the State being special and individual, there could be no question of any accession to either dominion and no point in its representatives participating in the meeting called for 2 5 July [No. 93 ; see also the earlier and less uncompromising letter of 9 July, No. 58, and V.P. Menon’s reply, No. 104].
The Secretary of State circulated a memorandum to members of the India and Burma Committee on 14 July documenting the Travancore situation [No. 106] while on the passage of the Indian Independence Bill through both Houses the Dewan so interpreted what was happening as to conclude that 'in law as well as in fact Travancore will become an independent country’ from 1 5 August but would do its utmost to agree on functional cooperation over a wide range of practical matters with India [No. 146]. V.P. Menon indicated in a letter of 20 July to Abell his views on how the arguments for accession might best be deployed by the Viceroy [No. 185], while Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyer’s concern with economic factors emerged in the record of an interview with the British Deputy High Commissioner [No. 192; see also No. 202 for comments by Corfield], There is a lively account of the Viceroy’s talk with the Dewan on 21 July in the Viceroy’s Personal Report dated 25 July [No. 228, paras. 16-19]. On 22 July the Viceroy further wrote to the Maharaja setting out the case for accession [No. 203]. The terms were those he felt in a position to offer to the States generally, namely accession on the three central subjects but ‘without any interference in internal autonomy or jurisdiction or any financial implications’ which seemed to him most attractive by comparison with earlier prospects. Furthermore he felt ‘positive’ that if he could bring in ‘a basket-full of states before 15 August Congress will pay whatever price I insist on for the basket’ [No. 228, paras. 24 and 25].
The Conference of Rulers and Representatives of Indian States in the Chamber of Princes on 25 July enabled the Viceroy to bring home to his audience the imminence of change and the need for decision — though he complained that the representatives of the smaller States scarcely seemed to grasp what he was saying [Nos. 234 and 302, para. 44]. The Viceroy explained that with the passage of the Indian Independence Act, the States were released from all their obligations to the Crown and proceeded to emphasise that the link that subsisted in the British period, with Viceroy and Crown Representa¬ tive one and the same person, was to be broken. If nothing were to be put in its place ‘only chaos can result’ and, with chaos, the States would suffer first. To
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avert this States’ departments had been set up within the two successor govern¬ ments under Sardar Patel and Sardar Abdur Nishtar respectively. They would negotiate with the Princes about the future with this difference in procedure, that while Pakistan was prepared to negotiate with each State individually — indeed it seems Jinnah insisted on this [see No. 228, para. 26] — India, because of the large number involved, would do so only on a general basis of signature of the draft Instrument of Accession [for text in final form, see No. 313, Enclosure 1] which was circulated to the Rulers. The essence of the transaction was the surrender by the States to the Central Government concerned of three subjects — Defence, External Affairs and Communications — with an explicit provision that in ‘no other matters has the Central Government any authority to encroach on the internal autonomy or the sovereignty of the States’. In the Viceroy’s view this would be a ‘tremendous achievement’ for the States: he urged their Rulers to accede, reminding them that they could not ‘run away from the Dominion Government which is your neighbour’ and advising them ‘if you are prepared to come [in], you must come before 15 August’ No. 234].
On 1 August the Viceroy listed the States that had been seriously holding out — Travancore, Hyderabad, Dholpur, Indore and Bhopal. The first and in the Viceroy’s opinion, the one of critical importance, Travancore gave in under pressure from the States’ People’s movement and after an assault on the Dewan, the Maharaja conveying his acceptance of the Instrument of Accession per¬ sonally to the Viceroy on 30 July [Nos. 284 and 302, paras. 45-46]. Of the remainder, Dholpur and Indore may be dealt with together. The Maharaja of Dholpur, imbued with a deep conviction of the divine right of Kings, received from the Viceroy an uncompromising response when, in an attempt to main¬ tain his dignity, he suggested a treaty relationship as an alternative to accession [Nos. 242 and 265]. It was not until the last allotted day, 14 August that he came and signed the Instrument of Accession [No. 489, para. 50]. The Maharaja of Indore, who had earlier received a stern rebuke from the Viceroy for his irresponsibility and discourtesy to the Crown Representative [No. 335], failed to deliver his Instrument of Accession until 15 August but then back¬ dated his signature to 14 August [No. 489, para. 49]. The Nawab of Bhopal, the Viceroy’s ‘second best friend’ in India [No. 302, para. 52] disclosed his state of mind, his thoughts on abdication, his pessimism about the future in a series of letters and personal talks with the Viceroy [Nos. 160, 201, 239, 297, 302, para. 52, 325 and 366] all of which and a good deal more caused the Viceroy to reflect that he supposed he had ‘spent more time on Bhopal’s case than on all the other States put together’ [No. 385, paras. 7 and 8]. The outcome was not without its curious interest. On 10 August the Nawab, contemplating abdica¬ tion, asked for an extension of ten days [No. 412] from 15 August which inter alia would enable him to see what decisions were taken by Hyderabad and Kashmir [No. 426, note 1]. On 11 August, by which time the Viceroy had
XXIV
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
secured the agreement of the Indian Cabinet to an extension for Hyderabad, the Viceroy suggested a compromise agreeable to Patel, by which Bhopal would sign and date an Instrument of Accession by midnight on 14 August which, however, would not then be delivered to the States Department but be retained by the Viceroy until 25 August, unless otherwise instructed by Bhopal [Nos. 435, 482 and 489, paras. 47 and 48]. The Nawab decided further not to abdicate for the present [No. 482].
Hyderabad and Kashmir remained. The situation within Hyderabad was described by the Resident on 28 July [No. 264]. On 26 July, in response to the Viceroy’s invitation to the Nawab of Chhatari to represent Hyderabad on the States Negotiating Committee, the setting up of which was announced at the meeting on 25 July [No. 234], the Nawab stated that it would be inappropriate for him to participate because Hyderabad had not joined the Constituent Assembly and was ‘not interested’ in the problem of accession [No. 241]. Representatives of Hyderabad did, however, attend the meeting and asked questions designed to indicate their attitude [No. 240]. On 1 August the Viceroy wrote that although everybody else appeared to have given up hope of Hyderabad coming in, he (the Viceroy) still thought Monckton had ‘a sporting chance’ of managing it [No. 302, para. 47]. There followed a fruitless meeting on 3 August [No. 329] of which Monckton’s seems to be the only surviving record. On 8 August the Nizam wrote at length to the Viceroy to make the position of the State clear and to indicate that he was prepared to contemplate only a Treaty relationship [No. 376]. On 12 August, after two further interviews with Monckton [Nos. 420 and 434], the Viceroy, while noting that he would no longer be Crown Representative, conveyed to the Nizam the concurrence of the future government of India in his continuing negotiations for a further period of two months after 15 August in which he hoped ‘we shall be able to reconcile our views’ [No. 440; see also No. 489, para.51].
On Kashmir, to which State the Viceroy had paid a visit in June [see Vol. XI, No. 369, para. 30], there is substantial documentation only on the plans about a visit either by Nehru or by Gandhi to the State. It was finally decided that Gandhi should go [see Nos. 129, 149, 249, 259, 260, 269, 302, paras. 25-33 where the story is told as seen by the Viceroy, and 385, para. 19]. In his con¬ cluding Report the Viceroy seemingly had no news of Kashmir other than that the Maharaja had decided to dismiss his Dewan, Pandit Kak, and that he was now said to be contemplating a referendum provided the Boundary Com¬ mission gave him land communications with India [No. 489, para. 51]. Mention should also be made of the extended negotiations between Pakistan and Kalat in which the Viceroy played an active part [Nos. 174, 228, para. 15, 263, 303, 317, para. 6, 330, 351, 360, 375, 384, paras. 1-3, 385, para. 2 and 396]. ‘It appears’, the Viceroy concluded on 16 August, ‘as if this great problem of the
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
XXV
States has been satisfactorily solved within the last three weeks of British rule’ [No. 489, para. 51].
In London there were misgivings on the part of the Secretary of State and his advisers on the pressure, especially in respect of the rigid time-table imposed by the Viceroy upon the Princes which, after consultation with the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State conveyed to the Viceroy. The latter reacted sharply: the former withdrew unreservedly [Nos. 262, 275, 307, 340, 383 and 401].
Meanwhile as the day of partition and transfer neared pressure of work increased and friction became ‘more intense’ though the Viceroy also felt ‘more than ever convinced that if the date of transfer had been 1 October there would have been a serious risk of a complete breakdown’ [No. 302, para. 1]. In these circumstances the instrumentalities devised to effect the necessary change ie the Partition Council, its Steering Committee and the expert Committees that worked to it at the Centre [see Vol. XI, pp. xv-xvii for background] had unusually exacting assignments. In respect of the Provinces some indication of the task and the difficulties that arose was given in respect of Bengal on the occasion of the Viceroy’s visit on 30-31 July to help resolve differences in the Separation Committee [see above p. xv and Nos. 287 and 302, paras. 4-8] and, in respect of the Punjab, in the Governor’s letters of 13 July already alluded to [Nos. 89 and 90] to be read perhaps in conjunction with the comment in the Governor’s last report to the Viceroy to the effect that the Punjab Partition Committee completed such work as it was able to do by 11 August but the Committee really agreed about very little and most important questions were left to arbitration or for the new governments to settle [No. 459, para. 7 On the other hand the Viceroy reported a very successful meeting wit the Committee on 22 July [Nos. 205, Case No. P.C. 80/8/47 and 228, paras. 6-13].
The working of the machinery at the Centre where, the Viceroy reported to the Secretary of State, the Partition Council was meeting three times a week in mid and late July [Nos. 162, para. 1 and 228, para. 1] was acknowledged to be very dependent upon the high quality of the Steering Committee composed of H.M. Patel and Chaudri Mohammad Ah [No. 162, para. 18]. As already mentioned, it had been agreed that a Joint Defence Council, which upon transfer would supersede the Partition Council, should be constituted so as to meet in a preliminary way by the first week of August. In fact it came into being to meet a felt need during the last week of July [No. 302, para. 1] though it was not formally constituted by Order until 11 August [No. 425]. On some occasions the meetings were tense and unproductive, the Viceroy reporting that on 3 1 July to have been ‘the most difficult Joint Defence Council and Partition Council meeting that we have had so far’ [No. 302, para. 12] ; on others they went smoothly and profitably — as on 15 July when seven items were
XXVI
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
disposed of in under twenty-five minutes [No. 162, para. 18; see also No. 385, para. 27].
There remained the constitution of an Arbitral Tribunal and the appointment of its Chairman on which much was thought likely to depend. The purpose of the Tribunal was to determine issues on which either the Partition Council or the provincial partition committees had failed to reach agreement and both the Secretary of State and Viceroy were anxious to establish it as soon as possible so as to speed the resolution of disputed issues [Nos. 73 anci 96]. A first proposal for Chairman was Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a second that of the Chief Justice, Sir Patrick Spens, but when Radcliffe took over the chairmanship of the Boundary Commission and Spens was approached, he ruled that the Chairmanship would be incompatible with the Chief Justiceship of the Federal Court [cf. Vol. XI, pp. xvii-xviii]. In the end he decided to resign from the latter and serve in the former capacity [Nos. 65, para. 13 and 148, Case No. P.C. 55/6/47]. A Hindu and a Muslim judge were appointed to assist him. The aim and object of the Partition Council was, in the Viceroy’s words, ho avoid referring matters to the Arbitral Tribunal whenever possible, and when¬ ever a common sense solution could be found’ [No. 287]. By 8 August the Viceroy reported that no case had so far to be decided by the Tribunal.
The nature of the problems that arose in respect of the division of liabilities and assets, in so far as that had proceeded by 15 August, may be gathered from the reports of the provincial partition committees, not least those alluded to in another context above, and the Central Partition Council. The minutes of the Viceroy’s Twenty Fourth Miscellaneous Meeting on 30 July add some realistic detail about the general issues and respective standpoints [No. 287] while Sardar Patel’s letter and a note by Mr Cooke, both of 6 August [Nos. 354 and 355], bring out the possible consequences of failure to agree in respect of the division of certain material assets and the sharing of responsibility for the public debt [see No. 369, Item 4; for subsequent discussion at the Viceroy’s Staff Meeting on 7 August, the formulation of the Viceroy’s proposals and, Jinnah’s ‘flat refusal’ to agree to them, see No. 385, paras. 31-38 and ‘midnight stop press’; for Patel’s exposition of Indian views on 11 August, see No. 423 and, for the Viceroy’s resolution of the issues involved, see No. 489, paras. 30-32].
Of major importance was the division of the armed forces and the associated questions of the date of the withdrawal of British forces and of the negotiation of any defence treaty with the new dominions before the 15th August, all of which were reviewed at a meeting of the Chiefs of Staff Committee on 9 July with Lord Ismay present [No. 41; see also No. 49]. British Armed Forces, the Prime Minister stated, would start to be withdrawn on 15 August and their withdrawal was expected to be completed by the end of the year [No. 50; see also No. 489, note 53], Mountbatten on 9 July confirming that this would not
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
XXV11
affect the ability of the Indian Army to protect the North-West Frontier [No. 44]. On 10 July a directive was issued by the Chief of the General Staff to Regional Commands on the Reconstitution of the Armed Forces [No. 57]. On 11 July Pandit Nehru wrote to the Viceroy and urged upon General Sir A. Smith more rapid nationalisation of the Forces with Indian Officers promoted to the highest ranks more quickly than General Smith thought practicable at a time when the Armed Forces were being divided and reconstituted [Nos. 69 and 88]. The Viceroy with the concurrence of the party leaders issued a circular notice encouraging British officers to serve, if invited, in the forces of the new dominions [Nos. 64, 69, 79 and 80; for numbers who volunteered, see Nos. 385, para. 56 and 489, para. 35].
The Viceroy advised on 15 July that a public announcement should be made to the effect that British Forces would not be used operationally or be available to intervene in internal disorder after 15 August and the Secretary of State concurred [Nos. 124, 169 and 283]. A directive with instructions to this effect was issued by General Sir Arthur Smith on 29 July [No. 267; see also No. 276, Case No. J.D.C. 9/2/47]. The division of the Armed Forces provoked controversy [No. 302, paras. 13-15] and in process of so doing hardened Congress feeling, notably against Auchinleck [Nos. 247, 270, 302, para. 15 and 385, paras. 44-47; for a note on the position of the Supreme Commander and his Staff during reconstitution, see No. 304]. The Prime Minister, as Ismay reported from London, had decided that it would be most untimely to discuss Britain’s long-term strategic requirements with Indian leaders [No. 49; see also Nos. 219, 352, Case No. J.D.C. 47/7/47, 385, para. 41, 402, para. 28, 443 and 488, paras. 12 and 13].
The Chairman of the Boundary Commission, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, arrived in Delhi on 8 July. Two days later he left for visits to Bengal and the Punjab and his favourable impressions of the other members of the Commission in both Provinces were reported by the Viceroy [Nos. 65, para. 8 and 162, paras. 4 and 5, while for enquiries by the Governor of the Punjab on supply of information for the Commission, see Nos. 3, 12, Item 1 and 19]. It was agreed among the Viceroy’s staff on the day of Radcliffe’s arrival that neither the Viceroy nor members of his staff should receive any representations about the new Provincial boundaries — that was 'entirely a matter for the Boundary Commission’ [No. 5]. At the meeting of the Partition Council on 10 July it was agreed that no directive should be given to the Boundary Commission and that it should be left to their discretion to interpret the terms of reference [No. 52, Case No. P.C. 26/4/47]. On 23 July the Viceroy caused it to be made known that it would be most improper for him to receive any representations affecting the Boundary Commission’s work [No. 210]. 'It is for the Boundary Commission to interpret their terms of reference’, he told Hydari on 24 July, ‘I have been asked more than once to define them but have had to refuse’ [No. 220]. He
XXV111
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
replied in similar terms to an enquiry from Radcliffe arising from a difference of opinion among members of the Bengal Boundary Commission as to the scope of their duty under the terms of reference in respect of Sylhet, saying that while he agreed with Radcliffe’s view ‘he must leave it to Sir Cyril Radcliffe to decide the matter for himself. . . ’ [No. 318]. Nor was the Viceroy prepared to respond other than negatively to the Sikh rulers, from all of whom he had received representations, explaining that he was in no way able to influence the Commission’s findings [Nos. 367 and 378]. This attitude was consistently adhered to. On 10 August he advised Nehru that it was most important that he (the Viceroy) should do nothing to prejudice the independence of the Boundary Commission and wrong therefore for him even to forward a memorandum as Nehru wished [Nos. 395, 406 and 449]. And on 11 August, in response to representations from the Maharaja of Bikaner, he said the Boundary award was a matter in which he could neither intervene nor seek to influence the Chairman — ‘I have absolutely nothing to do with the findings of the Boundary Commission’ [No. 427]. An allusion to ‘special factors’ by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State as reported in the Press led to violent protests by Jinnah and Liaquat [No. 121]. The official report sent by the Secre¬ tary of State to the Viceroy on 16 July differed in respects deemed significant from those published in the newspapers [No. 144; see also Nos. 206 and 216].
A matter of moment to all likely to be affected was the date of completion of the Boundary Commission Report. It was first raised on the day of Radcliffe’s arrival when the Viceroy at a Staff Meeting, at which Sir Cyril was present, emphasised the desirability of the work of the Boundary Commission being finished by 14 August [No. 12, Item 1]. On 11 July in his Personal Report [No. 65, para. 8] the Viceroy emphasised that ‘Nehru, Jinnah and the Boundary Commissions have all agreed that the work should be completed by the 15 August and Sir Cyril Radcliffe has concurred’. O11 16 July the Governor of the Punjab caused a special request to be made ‘for as much advance intimation not only of the date of the award but also of its contents as can be given’, in view of the precautions it would be necessary to take in the districts ‘likely to be affected, particularly those in the Central Punjab [No. 13 1], and on 21 July he repeated this request during the Viceroy’s visit to Lahore, saying that ‘even a few hours warning would be better than none’ [No. 190]. On 21 July Nehru conveyed to the Viceroy his reflections on the frontiers likely to emerge [No. 195] and Baldev Singh further commented on them [No. 199]. On 22 July the Punjab Partition Committee enquired whether there was any chance of announcing the award by 10 August to which Radcliffe replied that the time schedule was a ‘fine one’, that he did not think he could manage 10 August but thought he could promise 12 August [Nos. 200 and 209; see also No. 359, para. 5]. On 8 August Abell sent Abbott, Secretary to the Governor of the Punjab, a map showing ‘roughly the Boundary which
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
XXIX
Sir Cyril Radcliffe proposes to demarcate in his award’, which Abell said, was expected within 48 hours [No. 377]. On the same day the Governor reiterated his wish for the earliest possible information of it [No. 382, para. 5]. The Viceroy’s Staff Meeting on 9 August was told that Radcliffe ‘would be ready by that evening to announce the award of the Punjab Boundary Commission’. The Viceroy observed that it was for reconsideration whether it would in fact be desirable to publish it right away upon the grounds that the earlier it was published, the more the British would have to bear the responsibility for the disturbances which would undoubtedly result [No. 389]. Further requests for at least 24 hours notice of the award followed from the Governors of the Punjab and Bengal [Nos. 391 and 414). On 12 August it was decided at a Staff Meeting to inform the two Governors that it appeared impossible to publish the awards as early as had been hoped [Nos. 436, 446 and 453]. On 14 August the Viceroy informed the Secretary of State of a ‘crisis’ that had arisen over the Boundary Commission Awards, underlining at the outset that he himself had scrupulously avoided all connection with the Boundary Commission, including interpretation of its terms of reference or transmission of representations. The crisis arose because of complaints received from Liaquat about a ‘political decision’ in the rumoured allocation of a large part of Gurdaspur to the East Punjab and vehement protest from Patel about the reported inclusion of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in East Pakistan. In view of the strong feelings aroused the Viceroy decided not to publish the awards himself but to have a meeting of representatives of the two governments to decide upon timing and method of publication. The meeting was fixed for the morning of 16 August [Nos. 428, 452, 454, 472 and 485]. The awards were finally ready by noon on 13 August, ‘just too late’, the Viceroy later observed, ‘for me to see before leaving for Karachi’ [No. 489, para. 1 1 ] .
The reader will find a narrative account of most of these developments in the Viceroy’s seventeenth and last Personal Report [No. 489, paras. 2-18]. The reports of the Boundary Commission are attached as appendices to the Viceroy’s last weekly letter to the Secretary of State [No. 488] while the minutes of the Joint Defence Council Meeting of representatives of the governments of India and Pakistan over which the Viceroy presided on the morning of 16 August and at which the Boundary awards were disclosed, relating as they do, to an event outside the period but providing, as they also do, a natural climax to one part of the transfer process, are reprinted at No. 487.
Some considerable thought was given not least by the Viceroy, to the cere¬ monies appropriate to transfer. In connection with them the Viceroy enquired of the Secretary of State as early as 17 July whether it would be the case that he ceased to be Governor-General as from one minute past midnight on 14/15 August and should therefore be sworn in again before proceeding to the Con¬ stituent Assembly on the morning of the 15 th. The answer was in the affir-
XXX
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
mative and the form of the oaths of allegiance and of office duly supplied [Nos. 145, 204, 215, 251, 252, 273 and 274]. I11 his Personal Report No. 13, dated 18 July, the Viceroy gave an account of the progress made in planning the ceremonies to take place in Karachi on 14 and in Delhi on 15 August [No. 162, paras. 24-29]. On 26 July the Secretary of State had circulated to the India and Burma Committee an outline of the official ceremonies in mind for Delhi — it was for Mr Jinnah to arrange those for Karachi — [No. 243] and this was discussed by the Committee on 28 July with enquiries subsequently sent to the Viceroy about the form of the Royal message and about the flag to be flown by Provincial Governors in India [No. 261 ; see also No. 308]. There had been discussion also about the flags for the dominions, the Viceroy himself submitting a design for each, neither of which, however, was deemed appro¬ priate [Nos. 162, paras. 25 and 26, 228, para. 28 and 279, para. 7]. The planning, however, was far surpassed by the events of two memorable days. Of them the Viceroy in his final Report [No. 489] has left a graphic account, (to which the texts of his address to the India and Pakistan Constituent Assemblies are appended) that needs no editorial gloss. The sequel to indepen¬ dence and partition lies outside the scope of British documentation and the editorial brief.
By far the greater part of the hitherto unpublished documents reproduced in this volume, are drawn from the official archives of the India Office in the custody of the India Office Records or from the Mountbatten Papers.
The documents reproduced from the India Office Records are from the following series of which the three most important are asterisked :
L/E/8
L/F/y
L/I/i
*L/PO L/P &J/5
L/P &J/7 L/P &J/8 *L/P &J/10 L/P &S/12 L/P &S/13 L/S &G/7 L/WS/i
R/i
*R/3/i
Economic Department Files (including Communications and Overseas Department)
Financial Department Collections Information Department Files Private Office Papers
Political Department Miscellaneous (including Governors’ Reports)
Political Department Files
Political Department Collections
Political Department Transfer of Power Papers
External Department Collections
Political ‘Internal’ Department Collections
Services and General Department Collections
War Staft Files
Crown Representative’s Records
Papers of the Office of the Private Secretary to the Viceroy1
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
XXXI
Every document in these series is referred to in the text by the appropriate series notation followed by the number assigned to the particular file, collection, or volume in which the document is filed or bound. Thus the notation L/P &J/10/40 refers to the fortieth file in the series called Political Department Transfer of Power Papers. Each document in a file, collection, or volume is identified by a folio reference.
The Editors are indebted to the Trustees of the Broadlands Archives Settle¬ ment for the loan of their microfilms of those official and demi-official Indian Papers of the Earl Mountbatten of Burma which are in their custody and for permission to make copies of documents from those microfilms. Documents from this source are cited in the present Volume as the 'Mountbatten Papers’.
Some documents, not in any of these archives, have been obtained from elsewhere, notably the Cabinet Office and the Prime Minister’s Office.2 The Editors have also consulted those papers of Sir Walter Monckton which are now in the keeping of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and a number of documents from this source have been included. They are reproduced by kind permission of Balliol College, Oxford. We are indebted to Dr Kanwar Sain for the text of Document 405.
The most important categories of telegraphic communications between the Secretary of State and the Viceroy were classified in the following ways. One category of telegrams from the Viceroy to the Secretary of State carried the letter ‘S’, or ‘S.C.’ if the Viceroy was at Simla or in Camp, ie on tour. During the Viceroy’s visit to Karachi telegrams sent from there carried the suffix ‘K’ while those sent from Delhi by the Viceroy’s staff continued to carry the suffix 'S’. Another category consisted of ‘U’ telegrams, which were reserved for the most secret and personal matters, the letter 'U’ indicating the nature of the telegram, irrespective of whether it did, or did not, carry a 'Secret’ or ‘Private’ prefix. ‘U’ telegrams could be enciphered or deciphered only in the Private Offices of the Secretary of State or the Viceroy. Some ‘S’ or 'S.C.’ telegrams were marked ‘Superintendent Series’ which indicated to Superintendents of Telegraph branches that especial care should be taken to safeguard their security. Certain changes in the channels of communication between the Viceroy and the Secretary of State, made at the beginning of Lord Wavell’s Viceroyalty, may be studied in the Appendix to Volume IV, and a small alteration in these arrange¬ ments — made with regard to the likely wishes of the members of an Interim Government — is recorded in the Appendix to Volume VIII.
It may also be helpful to mention that of the Papers and Minutes of the India and Burma Committee of the Cabinet those relating solely to Burma are excluded as treating of matters outside the scope of this Series.
1 This series includes three files (R/3/1/176-8) from the Office of the Secretary to the Governor of the Punjab.
2 A file (R/30/1/12) containing copies of these documents can be consulted in the India Office Records.
XXX11
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME XII
Ill conclusion the Editors desire to acknowledge once again the friendly assistance and advice they have received from the officials at the India Office Library and Records, among whom they would like to mention the Director, Mr B.C. Bloomfield, and the Deputy Archivist, Mr Martin I. Moir.
N. MANSERGH PENDEREL MOON
|
Abbreviations |
|
|
A.D.C. A.F.P.F.L. A.F.R. A.F.R.C. A.G.G. A.O.C.-in-C. A.O.P. A.P.I. |
Aide-de-Camp Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League Armed Forces Reconstitution (Reorganisation) Armed Forces Reconstitution Committee Agent to the Governor-General Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Observation Post Associated Press of India |
|
B.D.S.T. B.O.A.C. |
British Double Summer Time British Overseas Airways Corporation |
|
C.G.S. C.I.D. vH.G.S. C.-in-C. C.O.S. C.P. |
Chief of the General Staff Criminal Investigation Department Chief of the Imperial General Staff Commander-in-Chief Chiefs of Staff Central Provinces |
|
D.B.S.T. D.G.C.A. D.I.B. D.I.G. D.P.S.V. |
Double British Summer Time Director General of Civil Aviation Director of the Intelligence Bureau Deputy Inspector-General Deputy Private Secretary to the Viceroy |
|
E.A. and C.R. |
External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations |
|
G.C.M.G. |
Knight Grand Commander of St. Michael and |
|
G.H.Q. G.O.C. |
St. George General Fleadquarters General Officer Commanding |
|
H.E.H. H.E.P. H.E.P.M. H.M. H.M.D. H.M.G. H.Q. H.R.H. |
His Exalted Highness His Excellency the President His Excellency the Prime Minister His Majesty or Honourable Member Honourable Member for Defence His Majesty’s Government Headquarters His Royal Highness |
|
XXXIV |
ABBREVIATIONS |
|
I. and B. I.C.S. I.G. I.M.F. I.M.S. I.N.A. I.S.T. |
Information and Broadcasting Indian Civil Service Inspector-General International Monetary Fund Indian Medical Service Indian National Army Indian Standard Time |
|
K.C. |
King’s Counsel |
|
M.C.S. M.L.A. M.S.V. M.T. |
Member of the Council of State Member of the Legislative Assembly Military Secretary to the Viceroy Motorised or Military Transport |
|
N.W.F.P. N.W.R. |
North-West Frontier Province North-W estern Railway |
|
P.B.F. P.S.V. |
Punjab Boundary Force Private Secretary to the Viceroy |
|
R.A.F. R.I. R.I.A.F. R.I.E.M.E. R.I.N. R.N. R.S.S.S. |
Royal Air Force Rex Imperator Royal Indian Air Force Royal Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Royal Indian Navy Royal Navy Rashtriya Sway am Sewak Sangh |
|
S.G.P.C. |
Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee |
|
U.K. U.N.O. U.P. U.S.A. U.S.S.R. |
United Kingdom United Nations Organisation United Provinces United States of America Union of Soviet Socialist Republics |
|
V.C.O. V.C.P. V.P.R. |
Viceroy’s Commissioned Officer Viceroy’s Conference Paper Viceroy’s Personal Report |
Principal Holders of Office
United Kingdom
Cabinet
Members of the India and Burma Committee are italicised.
i
Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Minister without Portfolio Chancellor of the Exchequer President of the Board of Trade Minister of Defence Lord Chancellor
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Common¬ wealth Relations and Leader of the House of Lords Secretary of State for Scotland Secretary of State for the Colonies Secretary of State for India and for Burma
Minister of Labour and National Service
Minister of Fuel and Power
Minister of Health
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
Minister of Education
Lord Privy Seal
Mr Clement Attlee
Mr Herbert Morrison
Mr Ernest Bevin Mr Arthur Greenwood Mr Hugh Dalton Sir Stafford Cripps Mr A. V. Alexander Viscount Jowitt Mr J. Chuter Ede
Viscount Addison
Mr J. Westwood Mr A. Creech Jones Earl of Listowel
Mr G. A. Isaacs
Mr E. Shinwell Mr Aneurin Be van Mr T. Williams Mr George Tomlinson Lord Inman
OTHER MINISTERS MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME
Minister of Food Mr John Strachey
Minister of Supply Mr John Wilmot
1 In addition the following were also members of the Committee : Mr Hugh Dalton (for financial questions only), Mr C. P. Mayhew (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs), Mr A. G. Bottomley (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations), Mr Arthur Henderson (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for India and for Burma), and Lord Chorley. P.R.O. CAB. 21/1739.
XXXVI
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF OFFICE
Attorney-General Sir Hartley Shawcross
Parliamentary Secretary to the Mr W. Whiteley Treasury and Chief Whip
Secretary of State Permanent Under- Secretary Parliamentary Under-Secretary Deputy Under-Secretary Assistant Under-Secretaries
Private Secretary to the Secretary of State
INDIA OFFICE
Earl of Listowel Sir Archibald Carter Mr Arthur Henderson Sir William Croft Sir Paul Patrick Mr G. H. Baxter Mr R. M. J. Harris
India
Viceroy, Governor-General and Crown Representative Chief of the Viceroy’s Staff Principal Secretary to the Viceroy Private Secretary to the Viceroy Reforms Commissioner
Rear-Admiral Viscount Mountbatten of Burma Lord Ismay Sir Eric Mieville Sir George Abell Mr V. P. Menon
INTERIM GOVERNMENT (up until 19 JULY 1 947)
External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations Finance
Home, Information and Broad¬ casting and States Commerce Food and Agriculture Communications Education and Arts Industries and Supphes Transport Health Defence Labour
Works, Mines and Power Law
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Mr Liaquat Ali Khan Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Mr I. I. Chundrigar Dr Rajendra Prasad Mr Abdur Rab Nish tar Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Mr C. Rajagopalachari Dr John Matthai Mr Ghazanfar Ali Khan Sardar Baldev Singh Mr Jagjivan Ram Mr C. H. Bhabha Mr Jogendra Nath Mandal
For lists of members of the provisional governments of India and Pakistan after 19 July, see Documents Nos. 172, 173 and 332.
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF OFFICE
XXXV11
PARTITION COUNCIL
Rear-Admiral Viscount Mountbatten of Burma Mr Mohammad Ali Jinnah Mr Liaquat Ali Khan Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Dr Rajendra Prasad
PROVISIONAL JOINT DEFENCE COUNCIL
(as constituted on 26 July 1947)2 Rear-Admiral Viscount Mountbatten of Burma Field Marshal Sir C. Auchinleck Mr Mahomed Ah Jinnah Mr Liaquat Ali Khan Dr Rajendra Prasad Sardar Baldev Singh
GOVERNORS
Madras
Bombay
Bengal
United Provinces Punjab
Central Provinces and Berar
Assam
Bihar
North-W est Frontier Province
Orissa
Sind
OF PROVINCES
Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Nye
Sir John Colville Sir Frederick Burrows Sir Francis Wylie I.C.S.
Sir Evan Jenkins I.C.S.
Sir Frederick Bourne I.C.S.
Sir M. S. A. Hydari I.C.S.
Sir Hugh Dow I.C.S. Lieutenant-General Sir Rob Lockhart (acting from 26 June 1947)
Sir George Cunningham (from 13 August 1947)
Sir Chandulal Trivedi I.C.S.
Sir Francis Mudie I.C.S.
PRIME MINISTERS (PREMIERS) OF PROVINCES
Madras
Bombay
Bengal
United Provinces
Central Provinces and Berar
Assam
Mr O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiar Mr B. G. Kher Mr H. S. Suhrawardy Pandit G. B. Pant Pandit R. S. Shukla Mr Gopinath Bardoli
2 The Joint Defence Council as officially constituted by Order on 1 1 August consisted of the above members with the exceptions of Mr Jinnah and Dr Prasad.
XXXV111
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF OFFICE
Bihar
North-W est Frontier Province
Orissa
Sind
Mr Sri Krishna Sinha Dr Khan Sahib Mr Harekrishna Mahtab Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah
The Punjab was administered by the Governor under Section 93 of the Government of India Act 1935.
Chronological Table of Principal Events
July
8
8
9
10
11
H 1 6 1 6
17
17
18
19
20
20
22
22
25
30
30-31
1947
Sir Cyril Radcliffe arrives in Delhi
Sikhs mount protest day of prayer against the threat to split their community under partition plan Mountbatten advises Attlee of his decision to accept the Governor-Generalship of India Radcliffe leaves Delhi for visits to Calcutta and Lahore Mountbatten meets Hyderabad delegation Result of Sylhet referendum announced in favour of East Bengal Last meeting of the Interim Government
Special request from Governor of the Punjab for as much advance intimation of date and content of Boundary Award as possible Sir Patrick Spens accepts appointment as Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal
Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyer, Dewan of Travancore, declares Travancore will be an independent country from 15 August Indian Independence Bill receives Royal Assent The Executive Council (Transitional Provisions) Order, re¬ constituting the Interim Government into two separate groups representing the two successor governments of India and Pakistan, published
Result of referendum in North-West Frontier Province announced in favour of Pakistan Mountbatten visits Lahore
Partition Council on behalf of successor dominion governments approves statement pledging them to accept the awards of the Boundary Commission ‘whatever these may be’
Partition Council approves the setting up of a Special Military Command under Major-General Rees from 1 August to safe¬ guard the peace in the Punjab
Mountbatten as Viceroy and Crown Representative addresses the Princes
Maharaja of Travancore accedes to the dominion of India Mountbatten visits Calcutta
August
1-5 Gandhi visits Kashmir
8 Map showing ‘roughly’ the boundary Radcliffe proposes to
demarcate in his award sent to the Punjab Governor’s Secretary
xl
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS
8 Nizam of Hyderabad offers to negotiate treaty with dominion
of India
9 Viceroy’s Staff Meeting informed that Radcliffe would be ready
to announce the Punjab award ‘that evening’; Viceroy questions desirability of publishing it ‘straight away’
9 Governor of the Punjab, after consultation with Governors-
designate of East and West Punjab, advises against arrest of Sikh leaders implicated in terrorist activities io Derailment of Pakistan special train at Bhatinda in East Punjab
10 Governor of Bengal says it is essential to have twenty four hours
notice of Boundary Award
1 1 Joint Defence Council Order published
1 1 Jinnah elected President of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
12 Arbitral Tribunal Order published
13 Radcliffe submits Boundary Commission Awards to Viceroy
13 Mountbatten writes to Nehru and Jinnah suggesting that findings
of Boundary Commission should be discussed on 16 August between representatives of India and Pakistan before awards are published
13 Mountbatten leaves for Karachi
14 Pakistan Independence Celebrations in Karachi ; Viceroy addresses
Pakistan Constituent Assembly 14-15 Midnight; Power transferred
15 Jinnah sworn in as Governor-General of Pakistan
15 Mountbatten sworn in as Governor-General of India; Inde¬
pendence Day Celebrations in Delhi
Summary of Documents
Chapter Page
1 Preparations for Transfer and Partition. The Governor-Generalship, xlii the supersession of the Interim Government and the passing of the Indian Independence Act: 8 to 19 July 1947
2 Preparations for Transfer and Partition. Problems of law and order; Ixi Formation of the Punjab Boundary Force: 20 July to 8 August
1947
3 The Report of the Boundary Commission and the Transfer of Power: lxxxvi 9 to 15 August 1947
4 The States. Negotiations on Accession: 8 July to 15 August 1947 xciv
xlii
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
CHAPTER I
Preparations for Transfer and Partition. The Governor-Generalship, the supersession of the Interim Government and the passing of the Indian Independence Act: 8 to 19 July 1947
Name and Number Date Main subject or subjects Page
1947
J',lY
3 Jenkins to Mountbatten 8
Telephone message
5 C. P. Scott to 1. D. Scott 8
Minute
6 Record of Interview between 8
Mountbatten and Nehru (extract)
7 Mountbatten to Ismay 8
Tel. 1830-S via India Office
8 Mountbatten to Ismay 8
Tel. 1832-S via India Office
to Cabinet C. M. (47) 60th 8
Conclusions Minute 1
12 Minutes of Viceroy’s 8
Fifty Fourth Staff:
Meeting Items 1 and 3
13 Mountbatten to Ismay 8
Tel. 1836-S via India Office
Discusses arrangements for supply 2
of information to Boundary Commission, composition of its staff, his own functions in relation to it, and financial arrangements
Neither Viceroy, nor members of his 6
staff:, can receive deputations in connection with the work of the Boundary Commission
Nehru agrees that Mahbub Ali should
be shown a copy of Mr Justice Clarke’s 6
findings
Communicates text of letter from 7
Jinnah stating that if future Govt of India will permit Mountbatten to act as independent and impartial Chairman of Joint Defence Council, he (Jinnah) will be glad to agree on behalf of Dominion of Pakistan
Explains position in relation to 8
reconstitution of central govt ; considers that it would be an embarrassment if Indian Independence Bill went through much earlier than 21 or 23 July
Attlee outlines position regarding 9
appointment of Governors-General ;
Cabinet approves terms of statement to be made
(1) Boundary Commissions — Mountbatten 12
emphasises desirability of their work being finished by 14 August;
(3) Parliamentary Question and Answer on the subject of the reconstitution of the Central Govt
Nehru will not object if it is 14
mentioned in debate that Colville and Nye, together with a British C.-in-C. and a number of senior British commanders, are being asked to stay on
CH. I PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
xliii
Name and Number Date
July
14 Ismay to Mountbatten 8
Tel. 8737 via India Office
|
15 |
Listowel to Attlee Minute 116/47 |
8 |
|
16 |
Abell to Turnbull Tel. 192-C |
8 |
|
17 |
Report from Reuter |
8 |
|
Indian Service |
||
|
18 |
Scott to Turnbull |
8 |
Tel. 1834-S
19 Mountbatten to Jenkins 8
Tel. 1839-S
20 Williams to Clauson 8
Tel. 1841-G
21 Mountbatten to 8
Liaquat Ali Khan Letter 1446/36
22 Mountbatten to Ismay
Tel. 1845-S via India Office
24 Mountbatten to Ismay
Tel. 1847-S via India Office
25 Mountbatten to Ismay
Tel. 1848-S via India Office
Main subject or subjects Page
Refers to Vol. XI, No. 564; Cabinet 14
Committee in favour of Mountbatten becoming Governor-General of India;
timing of statement to this effect
Withdrawal of British troops from 16
India
Composition of Bengal Partition 16
Council and question of Arbitration Tribunal
Sikhs mount protest against proposed 17
partition of Punjab which they fear will split their community
Refers to No. 16, note 1; Partition 18
Committee not Council has been established in Lahore; no proposal yet to set up Provincial Arbitration Tribunal
Refers to No. 3 ; staff for Boundary 19
Commission and functions of Governor in relation to Commission
Content of treaty providing for matters 20
arising out of transfer of power
Refers to Vol. XI, No. 549; 20
Mountbatten had to consult with Jinnah before answering ; League members of Interim Govt may take Viceroy’s letter as a dispensation not to tender their resignations until they can do so as a body following their return from referenda in N.W.F.P. and Sylhet
mentioned in debate that some of the provincial governors of Pakistan, together with some of its senior military personnel, will be British 8 Refers to No. 8; Jinnah and League 22
members of Interim Govt feel they are being humiliated over issue of reconstitution; Liaquat believes Congress wants League members to resign in order to ‘pull a fast one’ over Pakistan by removing assets ; Jinnah will not respond to request for resignation until all League members have returned from referenda in N.W.F.P. and Sylhet 8 Suggested Parliamentary Question and 23
Answer on the subject of the reconstitution of the Interim Govt for use should the need arise
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number Date
July
26 Isinay to Mountbatten 8
Tel. 80 via India Office
27 Attlee to Mountbatten 8
Tel. 81 via India Office
28 Attlee to Mountbatten 8
Tel. 82 via India Office
29 Mountbatten to Listowel 9
Tel. 1846-S
3 1 Ismay to Mountbatten 9
Tel. 84 via India Office
32 Minutes by Scott 9
and Brockman
34 Mountbatten to Jmnali 9
Letter 746/16
35 Mountbatten to Cripps 9
Letter
Main subject or subjects Page
Reports on meeting with Opposition; 24
encloses message from Churchill in which he outlines reasons why Mountbatten should accept Governor- Generalship of Indian Dominion
Urges Mountbatten to accept Governor- 25
Generalship of India
Transmits extract from speech he 26
will make to Commons explaining situation with regard to appointment of Governors-General
Jinnah’s nominations for Governors 28
of Pakistan provinces
King wishes Mountbatten to accept 30
Governor-Generalship of India ;
Chiefs of Staff being somewhat sticky about withdrawal of British troops and future defence arrangements in India; Slim disinclined to accept job as C.-in-C. of Army of Indian Union; Cunningham having qualms about his rejection of position as Governor of N.W.F.P.
Reconstitution of central Govt; in 30
order to avoid a political crisis, it is suggested that two completely separate Govts each having freedom to decide only those matters which will affect its own territory, should be formed as soon as Independence Bill is passed; future Govt of India should have control over existing departments and new Govt of Pakistan would have its own embryo departments under as many ministers as it liked to appoint ;
Scott’s minute briefly outlines advantages of scheme
Seeks Jinnah’s good offices in 33
persuading Bihar Muslim League not to press for an inquiry into Bihar riots of last November
Although he has accepted the 3 3
position, is uneasy about becoming Governor-General of India after 15 August; Viceroy’s private information is that Jinnah’s attitude has horrified his followers and Viceroy believes that it is the result of his chronic megalomania; Nehru shares this view but Vallabhbhai Patel ascribes more sinister motives to Jinnah
CH. I PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
Name ami Number
36 Mountbatten to Jenkins Letter
37 Minutes of Viceroy’s Fifty
Fifth Staff Meeting Item 1
38 Ismay to Churchill Letter
40 Christie to Abell Letter
41 Chiefs of Staff Committee
C.O.S. (47) 86th Meeting Minute 2, Confidential Annex
42 Mountbatten to Attlee
Tel. 1851-S via India Office
43 Record of Interview between Mountbatten and Gandhi
44 Mountbatten to Li stowe 1 Tel. 1867-S
45 Lockhart to Mountbatten Letter GFI-i 16
Main subject or subjects
Partition of the Armed Forces in the Punjab
Viceroy wishes it to be placed on record that he is still uneasy about accepting Governor-Generalship ;
Nehru and Patel have seen draft of Prime Minister’s Commons statement and have approved it
Refers to Vol. XI, No. 536 and Enclosure to No. 548 and expresses view that Jinnah’s requests are quite impracticable
Refers to points raised by Nehru in Vol. XI, No. 535; India Committee are of opinion that no further amendments can be made to Bill
Withdrawal of British troops from India; Defence Chiefs express concern that negotiations on Britain’s defence requirements will not begin until after r5 August; Ismay explains delicacy of situation but agrees to convey their views to Prime Minister and Viceroy; Enclosure: note by First Sea Lord outlining reasons why he considers Viceroy’s objections to negotiations beginning before 15 August ‘have no weight’
Refers to Nos. 27 and 28; agrees, with some misgivings, to liis name being submitted to King for appointment as Governor-General of Indian Dominion; suggests amendments to text of Prime Minister’s statement
Refers to Vol. XI, No. 382;
Mountbatten outlines steps being taken to ensure peaceful transfer of power; Gandhi urges that States should not be encouraged to declare independence; Mountbatten indicates the negotiations in view to ensure the States joining one Dominion or the other
Confirms that withdrawal of British troops will not affect ability of Indian Army to protect the North West Frontier
Reviews the post-referendum problem in the N.W.F.P.; seeks Viceroy’s permission to govern under Section 93 if it proves impossible to form a coalition ministry
Date
July
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
xlvi
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number
Date
Main subject or subjects
Page
46 Jenkins to Mountbatten Letter 693
July
9
47 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 1872-S
48 Attlee to Mountbatten Tel. 85 via India Office
49 Ismay to Mountbatten Tel. 8840 via India Office
50 Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 8841
51 Mountbatten to Ismay
Tel. 1874-S via India Office
10
52 Partition Council Meeting Case Nos. P.C. 26/4/47, 28/4/47, 30/4/47 and 31/4/47
10
59
60
Sikhs are sore about partition ; 5 8
suggests that British troops should be withdrawn from Punjab before end of July in case trouble starts when Boundary Commission reports
Refers to Vol. XI, Nos. 79 and 256; has called for resignations of all provincial governors
Refers to No. 42; expresses delight that Mountbatten is willing to become Governor-General of Indian Dominion
Refers to his meeting with Chiefs 60
of Staff (No. 41) and reports that Prime Minister has decided that it would be untimely to discuss Britain’s long-term strategical requirements with Indian leaders at present
Refers to Vol. XI, No. 51 1; outlines 61
views of Cabinet Committee on withdrawal of British troops from India and communicates announcement to be made by Prime Minister in Commons
Refers to Nos. 24 and 25 ; points 62
out that he will be in a difficult position if League members do not resign and he is forced to dismiss them and give all portfolios to Congress members of his own future govt; is therefore investigating mechanism whereby two future govts can hold separate portfolios for their future areas
(1) Addition of new sub-clause to 63
clauses 3 and 4 of Bill to make it clear that award of a Boundary Commission means ‘decision of Chairman’; (2) Question of King’s title;
(3) Boundary Commission to use their discretion in deciding whether to take account of natural features for purpose of fixing boundaries; (4) Mountbatten can receive a Sikh deputation only if it is made clear that no questions regarding boundaries can be raised; Mountbatten reaffirms his hope that Sikh leaders will be able to use their influence to persuade Sikh community to accept Boundary Commission award
CH. I PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION xlvii
Name and Number
53 Minutes of Viceroy’s
Fifty Sixth Staff Meeting Item 4
54 Unsigned papers on the
reconstitution of the Interim Government
55 Mountbatten to Krishna Menon Letter
56 Jenkins to Mountbatten Letter 694
57 Chief of the General Staff to Regional Commands Directive 6385/150/SD1
59 G. of I. External Affairs and
Commonwealth Relations Dept to S. of S.
Tel. 5350
60 Isnray to Mountbatten Tel. 8919 via India Office
62 Krishna Menon to Mountbatten Letter
63 Mountbatten to Nehru Letter
64 Mountbatten to Nehru Letter 38/17
65 Viceroy’s Personal
Report No. 12
Date Main subject or subjects Page
July
10 Mountbatten reports that Sardar Patel, 66
who has already written asking that Muslim members of interim govt ‘be got rid of as soon as possible’, has reacted favourably to idea that two separate govts should be established
10 (1) Draft Press Communique; (2) Note 66
on Reconstruction of the Government
10 Expresses thanks for Menon’s help 70
and advice
10 Expresses his view that Boundary 71
problem in Punjab cannot be settled in rational way and that a settlement negotiated by parties involved is only way to give two new provinces a peaceful start ; encloses record of interview with Giani Kartar Singh during which latter remarked that Sikhs would be obliged to fight if their claims were not met
10 Reconstitution of the Armed Forces 75
10 Refers to Vol. XI, No. 344; future 78
relations with Tibet
10 Suggests that Short, who has great 78
influence with Sikhs and who has been invited to go to India by Sikh leaders, should be attached to his (Ismay’s) staft as a temporary measure for two months
1 1 Expresses thanks for sentiments 89
expressed in No. 55; comments on other matters including States
11 Reconstitution of Interim Govt; 89
Viceroy proposes to reconstitute govt along lines suggested in No. 54 on morning of 1 8 July
1 1 Proposed statement asking for 91
British personnel to stay on for interim period during reconstitution of Armed Forces
11 Communal violence in Calcutta; work 92
of reconstituted Cabinet and progress made by partition council in Calcutta; Nehru, Jinnah and Boundary Commission have agreed that latter’s
xlviii
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number
65 [cont.)
67 Record of Interview between Jenkins and Jathedar Mohan Singh and Sardar Harnam Singh
68 Hydari to Mountbatten Letter (extract)
69 Nehru to Mountbatten Letter
Date Main subject or subjects Page
July
work should be completed by 15 August and all are pleased that Bill will make findings of Commission an Award; Mountbatten has doubts about Baldev Singh’s denial of press reports that he urged Sikhs to resist decision of Boundary Commission if it went against them; Maharaja of Patiala has agreed to use his influence to restrain Sikhs ; appeal to British Service personnel to stay on with the defence forces of two new Dominions ; future of Federal Court; composition of Arbitral Tribunal; reconstitution of armed forces; acerbity between Congress and League at Cabinet meeting over final destination of 22 million ounces of silver; B.O.A.C. application to inaugurate their new line to Karachi, Bombay and Ceylon; plan for reconstitution of Interim Govt; acceptance of Governor-Generalship of India; reception for representatives of Indian Press ; official dinner parties on national occasions; has persuaded Nehru and Patel to give him ‘a fairly free hand’ in negotiations with States ; meeting with Hyderabad delegation ; admits that he has not been able to ‘grip this States problem before’
11 Jathedar Mohan Singh (1) claims that 103
Jenkins is responsible for seeing that Sikhs get justice; (2) sees a ‘very substantial exchange of population’ as the only solution to the Sikh claim;
(3) sees little point in kind of disturbances Sikhs have in view but regards them as more or less inevitable
11 Discussions with representatives of ten 104
Naga tribes at Kohima; has visited Sylhet to obtain first-hand information of referendum; allegations of breakdown of law and order are false ; officers presiding have done good job of work
11 Replies to No. 64; welcomes services 105
of British officers and specialists in interim period but takes exception to sentence in proposed statement about ‘large numbers’ of British personnel staying on; expresses desire to see
CH. I PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
xlix
Name and Number Date
July
69 ( cont .)
70 H.M. Minister Kabul to 11
Secretary of State Tel. 61
71 Turnbull to Carter n
Minute
72 Listowel to Mountbatten 11
Tel. 8975
73 Listowel to Mountbatten 11
Tel. 8974
74 Nehru to Attlee 11
Letter
76 Minutes oi Viceroy’s Fifty 12
Seventh Staff Meeting Items 1 and 5
77 G. of I., Press Information 12
Bureau to India Office Tel. B496
79 Baldev Singh to Mountbatten 12
Letter
80 Mountbatten to Liaquat Ah Khan, 12
Patel, Prasad, Baldev Singh and Jinnah Letter
81 Note by Abell 12
82 Record of Interview between 12
Mountbatten and Jinnah
Main subject or subjects Page
nationalisation of armed forces and promotions of Indian officers pushed ahead as rapidly as possible; suggests that time has come for all persons who have opted for Pakistan to transfer their services immediately
Reports discussion with Afghan 107
Foreign Minister concerning Afghan claims to N.W.F.P.
Omission of Arbitral Tribunal from 108
Bill; expresses reservations about statement he has prepared for use in response to Butler’s question
Transmits amended version of 108
statement referred to in No. 71 Asks Viceroy to consider making an no
order to establish an Arbitral Tribunal before 15 August
Appointment of Krishna Menon as no
High Commissioner for India in London (1) Reconstitution of the Interim 112
Govt; (5) Post-Referendum problem in N.W.F.P.
Transmits text of Communique 113
announcing decisions reached by Partition Council regarding reconstitution of Indian Armed Forces Refers to No. 64, note 1; has no 115
objection to issue of proposed statement regarding retention of British personnel of Armed Forces; in order to meet Nehru’s views (No. 69) suggests that new terms of service should be released simultaneously with statement Forwards copy of statement (see 116
Enclosure) to be issued to all British officers and men serving in India
The Punjab: (1) Possibility of a 117
Ministry; (2) Partition work;
(3) References to Arbitration;
(4) Boundary Commission;
(5) Recommendations: no attempt should be made for present to form a Ministry; Mountbatten or member of his staff should ask Jinnah whether League would not be prepared to negotiate out of court with Sikhs;
Enclosure: Governor’s appreciation
Reconstitution of Interim Govt; 121
Jinnah not particularly grateful when Mountbatten gives him copy of
1
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name ami Number Date
July
82 ( cont ).
83 Bourne to Mountbatten 12
Letter D.O. N.16/G.C.P.
(extract)
84 Burrows to Mountbatten 12
Tel. 202-C
86 Mountbatten to Listowel 12
Tel. 1926-S
88 Record of Interview between 13
Nehru and Sir A. Smith
89 Jenkins to Mountbatten 13
Letter 695
Main subject or subjects Page
Enclosure to No. 63 ; Jinnah says Muslims throughout India would rise to defend oldest Muslim dynasty if Congress exerted pressure on Hyderabad; Jinnah agrees to Mountbatten calling a meeting with Khan of Kalat to suggest that he should join Pakistan; governorships of Pakistan provinces ; candidates for future Flag Officer of Royal Pakistan Navy and question of Pakistan’s Dominion flag; Jinnah explains why he cannot accept honour of G.C.M.G. ;
Mountbatten refers to P.S.V.’s brief (No. 81) and urges Jinnah to try for out of court settlement with Sikhs ; discussion of ministry in N.W.F.P. following referendum; Mountbatten says he is dead against Section 93 ; question of King’s signature
Expresses view that apprehensions of 125
Muslims of Central Provinces and Berar resorting to direct action are baseless and that if anything danger is other way round; explains that ministry still regard every Mushm as a ‘Pakistani’ with result that all senior Muslim officers in civil service and police are being transferred from Berar
Calcutta Disturbances; Enquiry 126
Commission will never complete its work; both sides of Bengal Cabinet have agreed to its dissolution
Jinnah has told draftsmen preparing 127
adaptation orders that he would prefer order for Pakistan to be based on Ninth Schedule rather than on Part II of 1935 Act; Mountbatten feels this will give Jinnah position of dictator; seeks advice as to what he should do in event of Jinnah insisting on adaptation order based on Ninth Schedule
Refers to No. 69; nationalisation of the 129
Armed Forces ; plan for control of any ‘disturbed area’ after 15 August; Armed Forces Reorganisation Committee
Points at issue between members of 13 1
the Punjab Partition Committee
CH. I PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
li
Name and Number
Date
Main subject or subjects
Page
July
|
90 |
Jenkins to Mountbatten |
13 |
Elaborates on points raised in No. 89 |
134 |
|
Letter 696 |
and suggests appointment of a ‘Boundary Administration’ to see that final boundary in Punjab is demarcated and that award is enforced |
|||
|
91 |
Jayakar to Attlee |
13 |
Congratulates Attlee on role he has |
137 |
|
Letter |
played in giving India independence |
|||
|
92 |
Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 1932-S |
13 |
Transmits Sylhet referendum result |
138 |
|
94 |
Nehru to Hydari |
13 |
Has received numerous complaints |
139 |
|
Tel. 5483 |
about referendum in Sylhet ; asks Hydari to investigate |
|||
|
95 |
Nehru to Mountbatten |
13 |
Outlines alleged malpractices during |
140 |
|
Letter |
Sylhet referendum; asks for a brief enquiry |
|||
|
96 |
Mountbatten to Listowel |
13 |
Refers to No. 73 ; hopes to have |
141 |
|
Tel. I937-S |
agreement on points to be referred to Arbitral Tribunal by first week of August |
|||
|
97 |
Mountbatten to Listowel |
13 |
Refers to No. 72; agrees to draft |
142 |
|
Tel. 193 8-S |
reply; in response to any supplementaries |
98 Mountbatten to Nehru Letter
99 Minutes of Viceroy’s Fifty
Eighth Staff Meeting Item 1
100 Mountbatten to Bhopal Letter
1 01 Mountbatten to Lockhart Letter 1446/3
13
14
14
14
feels it would not be unfair to point out that as most of assets are in Indian Dominion, Congress agreement to common Govenor-General was a generous gesture to Pakistan; Congress are sore at being misled by Jinnah over a matter in which they were seriously trying to help him
Refers to No. 95; says he has also received complaints of interference from Jinnah; rejects idea of enquiry
Reconstitution of Interim Govt ;
Mountbatten explains that one of main reasons why this was necessary was to enable provisional govts to be able to advise him on Orders-in-Council to be issued dealing with each future Dominion
Refers to Vol. XI, No. 561 ; explains why he has accepted Governor- Generalship of India ; urges Bhopal to accept three subject accession and not to say ‘No’ without a further talk
Refers to No. 45 ; post-referendum problem in N.W.F.P. ; whole context has been changed by fact that Jinnah will be Governor-General of Pakistan and because Pakistan Cabinet will advise on N.W.F.P. once Central Govt has been reconstituted; has
142
143
144
145
lii
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name ami Number
ioi (cont.)
102 Auchinleck to Mountbatten Letter
103 Jenkins to Mountbatten Letter 697 (extract)
107 Hydari to Nehru Tel. 959/C
108 Minutes of Viceroy’s
Fifty Ninth Staff Meeting Items 1 and 3
109 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 1951-S
no Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 1958-S
Date Main subject or subjects Page
J“h
discussed matter with Jinnah (No. 82) and impressed on him aversion to going into Section 93 ; praises work in connection with referendum un- Recommends that, in event of 146
dated clashes in neighbourhood of boundaries after 15 August, these districts should be designated ‘disturbed areas’, and that Supreme Commander, acting upon request of Joint Defence Council, should appoint a British Commander, with adequate troops allotted by the Commanders-in-Chief of the two Dominions, to take control of the area[s]
14 Reports that progress made by 147
Partition Committee has not been very good; boundary problem ‘is a very live issue — it may even be a casus belli’; non-Muslims are nervous about residing or serving in West Punjab and Muslims are far from happy about their position in East Punjab; anticipates that transfer of power will be accompanied by disorders but finds it impossible to say whether they will break out before or after 15 August or how serious they will be
14 Refers to No. 94; transmits 155
breakdown of referendum result in Sylhet; figures demonstrate that there could not have been intimidation on a large scale
14 (1) Reconstitution of the Interim Govt; 157
(3) The Punjab
14 Confirms that Baldev Singh was present 160 at meetings at which personnel of Boundary Commission and amendments to clauses 3 and 4 of Bill were agreed; at a meeting to discuss terms of reference of Boundary Commission Baldev Singh signified that though not content he accepted them
14 Reconstitution of Interim Govt; 161
Spence and Menon have produced an ‘ingenious means’ of avoiding necessity for League members to resign; Mountbatten intends to go ahead with it irrespective of League reactions ;
Draft Order has been drawn up; when
CH. I PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
liii
Name and Number Date
July
no (cont.)
in Note by Mountbatten un¬
dated
1 12 Record of Interview between 15
Mountbatten and Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan
1 13 Record of Interview between 15
Mountbatten and Auchinleck (extract)
1 14 Nehru to Mountbatten 15
Letter F-7(7)-P.S./47
Main subject or subjects Page
it is issued, Mountbatten intends to put out a Press Note explaining its necessity Submits for consideration by Partition 162
Council issues raised by Jenkins in Appendix ‘A’ to No. 89; explains that Radcliffe has agreed to see that report of Boundary Commission is presented before 15 August but that there will be no time to implement decision before 15 August if there are major changes from notional boundary
(1) Reconstitution of Interim Govt; 163
(2) Pakistan flag; (3) C.-in-C. of Pakistan ; (4) retention of Ismay on Mountbatten’s staff; (5) Pakistan nomination for Arbitral Tribunal ;
(6) successor body to Partition Council ;
(7) possibility of accommodation for Pakistan High Commission in Red Fort
(1) C.-in-C. reports result of interview 165
between C.G.S. and Nehru (No. 88);
(2) Baldev Singh’s accusations against British officers; (3) future residence for British Embassy or High Commissioner;
(4) position of British officers in command of Dominion troops in event of frontier clashes or offensive against a State like Travancore; (5) C.-in-C. expresses concern that he has not yet had official ruling about Gurkhas; (6) arrangements for departure from India of first contingent of British troops; (7) question of ‘Charter of Liberty’
Refers to No. 107 and accepts that 167
Sylhet referendum result could not have been materially affected by irregularities; points out that India Bill is not as clear as 3 June Statement on Sylhet; argues that process of transfer must be a single one and suggests that easiest way to arrange this is to get report of Boundary Commission before 15 August; problem arises in similar form in regard to notional division of Bengal and Punjab; in view of fact that Commission is likely to approach question of Sylhet more from point of view of Bengal than Assam, suggests means by which Assamese interests can be represented
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number
ii 6 G. of I. Cabinet Secretariat No. 1456/C.N./47
1 17 Listowel to Attlee Minute 125/47
1 19 Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 9090
120 Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 9107
1 21 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 1979-S
122 Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 9108
Date Main subject or subjects Page
July
15 Circulates following papers on 170
reconstitution of Central Govt;
(1) Note by Viceroy; (2) Draft Communique on the reconstitution of the Govt; (3) Draft Order
15 Refers to No. 86; Jinnah’s proposal 173
stems from Viceroy’s insistence that 1935 Act should remain in force in each of two Dominions; that Constituent Assembly of Pakistan can rescind orders of Governor-General and make a new constitution is most suitable response to charge that H.M.G. is helping to set up a dictatorship ; only other alternative is to amend Bill at very short notice in Lords
15 Transmits message from Attlee in 177
which latter says Nehru may be assured that H.M.G. is approaching matter of India’s balance of payments deficit sympathetically
15 Decision to appoint separate High 178
Commissioner to Pakistan; Sir L. Grafftey-Smith selected; Sir T. Shone will remain as High Commissioner in India; Indian leaders should be approached accordingly
15 Jinnah and Liaquat have protested 179
violently against a statement made by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in which, when explaining terms of reference of Boundary Commission, he is alleged to have said that ‘special factors’ were being allowed to take account of location of religious shrines of Sikhs in Punjab; has told Jinnah that he will send a copy of this protest to Radcliffe
15 Refers to No. 86; explains that Jinnah 179
is entitled to proceed under 9th Schedule and that it is useless to resist his wishes now; considers that Governor- General’s power to override his Council should be excluded in Adaptation Order on ground that this was part of machinery of British control ; authorises Mountbatten to prepare Order in form desired by Jinnah subject to exclusion of overriding power
15 Refers to No. 50; Auchinleck and 181
Mountbatten are in agreement that,
124 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 1983-S
CH. I PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
lv
Name and Number Date
July
124 [cont).
|
125 |
Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 1980-S |
16 |
|
126 |
S. of S. to G. of I., |
16 |
|
External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations Dept |
||
|
Tel. 9106 |
||
|
127 |
Meeting of Indian Cabinet Case No. 180/35/47 |
16 |
|
128 |
Abell to Harris Tel. 1985-S |
16 |
130 Lockhart to Mountbatten 16
Letter D.O. No. GH-127
13 1 Abbott to Abell 16
Letter D.O. No. G.S. 438
132 FLM. Minister Kabul to G. of I., 16
External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations Dept Tel. 64
133 Ismay to Carter 16
Minute
134 Notes by Scott and Abell 16
Main subject or subjects Page
in order to allay possible suspicion, statement should be issued to effect that British forces will not be available to intervene in internal disorder after 15 August; suggests that, in view of shortage of air-crews, number of squadrons should be reduced from three to two and that one of them should be located in India
Jinnah turns down G.C.M.G. in view 182
of League Working Committee’s opposition; Mountbatten requests permission to offer him a Privy Councillorship
Refers to No. 59; future relations with 183
Tibet and Bhutan
Reconstitution of Central Government 1 84
Refers to No. no, note 5; 186
Mountbatten understands that Congress intention is not to introduce any new members of Cabinet but to double up portfolios; matter is being discussed today in Cabinet
Reports talk with Abdul Ghaffar Khan 1 87
and Dr Khan Sahib on Congress proposals for dealing with post¬ referendum problem in N.W.F.P. ; suggests meeting between Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Jinnah
In view of fact that precautions will be 19 1
necessary, especially in districts likely to be particularly affected, Governor of Punjab requests as much advance intimation as can be given not only of the date of the Boundary Commission Award but also of its contents
Reports talk with Afghan Prime 19 1
Minister about Afghan interest in N.W.F.P. ; has urged Prime Minister to see Jinnah in Delhi
Desirability of an early announcement 192
to effect that Nye and Colville have been asked by Congress to continue in office
Comments on C.-in-C.’s plan to deal 193
with possible clashes or disturbances in neighbourhood of boundaries between two Dominions after 15 August
lvi
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
|
Name and Number |
Date |
|
July |
|
|
135 Note by Mountbatten |
un¬ |
|
dated |
|
|
136 Ismay to Mountbatten |
16 |
Tel. 90 via India Office
137 Listowel to Shone 16
UKRI 453 via Cabinet Office
138 Mountbatten to Burrows 16
Tel. I993-S
|
139 |
Mountbatten to Hydari |
16 |
|
Tel. 2000-S |
||
|
140 |
Mieville to Ismay |
16 |
|
Tel. 1996-S via India Office |
||
|
142 |
G. off, External Affairs and |
16 |
and Commonwealth
Relations Dept to S. of S.
|
Tel. 5574 |
|
|
143 Ismay to Mountbatten |
16 |
|
Tel. 89 via India Office |
|
|
144 Listowel to Mountbatten |
16 |
|
Tel. 9156 |
145 Mountbatten to Listowel 16
Tel. 1999-S
147 Listowel to Mountbatten 17
Tel. 9189
148 Partition Council Meeting 17
Case Nos. P.C.47/6/47, 55/6/47,
56/6/47 and 57/6/47
Main subject or subjects Page
Withdrawal of British Forces from 195
India and proposal for temporary retention of RAF transport squadron Suggests that Mountbatten might use 196
‘ridiculous claims’ of Afghan Govt to point out to Partition Council or to leaders individually how essential it is for India and Pakistan to have unified defence policy
Transmits instructions to negotiate with 196
Indian leaders standstill agreement for continued provision of military aircraft transit facilities
Seeks appreciation of situation which will 197 arise in Calcutta when result of Boundary Commission is announced in order to reassure Nehru; has no doubt Congress fear that League will carry out their threat to wreck city before they turn it over to Indian Dominion
Refers to Nos. 94, 95 and 98; considers 198
that Sylhet referendum has been efficiently and impartially run Question of appointment of Sir A. 198
Rowlands as Jinnah’s Chief Adviser Rejects suggestion that Afghan Govt 200
should send suitable emissary to discuss matter of N.W.F.P. with Viceroy or any Indian political leaders Reports meeting with Chiefs of Staff 200
on subject of strategic requirements Refers to No. 121; transmits relevant 201
passage from Henderson’s speech which differs in some important respects from version given to Mountbatten by Jinnah and Liaquat
Requests guidance as to whether he will 202
cease to be Governor-General as from one minute past midnight on night of 14/15 August and asks for form of oath to be taken on morning of 15th Refers to No. no; comments on 204
the Draft Order for the reconstitution of the Interim Govt
(1) Agreed that in the event of possible 206
clashes or disturbances in the neighbourhood of the boundaries between the two Dominions after 15 August, plan of action should be on lines indicated in No. 102;
CH. I PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
lvii
|
Name and Number |
Date |
Main subject or subjects |
Page |
|
|
July |
||||
|
148 {cont). |
(2) Arbitral Tribunal; (3) Issues connected |
|||
|
with the Partition work in the Punjab; (4) Replacement of present Partition Council after 15 August |
||||
|
152 |
Attlee to Nehru |
17 |
Explains why suggested amendment |
214 |
|
Letter |
to clause in Bill about States which he has discussed with Krishna |
|||
|
Menon could not be accepted; expresses inter alia admiration for courage and statesmanship of Nehru and Patel |
||||
|
153 |
Attlee to Mountbatten |
17 |
Debates on Bill went well and |
215 |
|
Letter |
opposition played their part in helping to get it through; tributes to Mountbatten were well deserved |
|||
|
and it is also recognised that Edwina has played great part in creating new atmosphere; expresses appreciation of Mountbatten’s decision to carry on for next stage; royal engagement |
||||
|
155 |
Mountbatten to Listowel |
17 |
Transmits text of Communique on |
216 |
|
Tel. 2010-S |
reconstitution of Interim Govt |
|||
|
156 |
Mountbatten to Listowel |
17 |
Transmits text of background press |
217 |
|
Tel. 201 i-S |
note on reconstitution of Interim Govt |
|||
|
U7 |
Cabinet India and Burma |
17 |
(1) Continued service of British Officers |
218 |
|
Committee |
in the Armed Forces in India; |
|||
|
I.B. (47) 42nd Meeting |
(2) Position of Judges of the Indian |
|||
|
Minutes 1-2 |
Federal and High Courts |
|||
|
M LA OO |
Mountbatten to Listowel |
17 |
Jinnah is anxious to make Baluchistan |
220 |
|
Tel. 201 8-S |
a Governor’s Province and Mountbatten |
|||
|
has urged on him advantage of appointing a British Governor; suggests Listowel should talk to Weightman who has been approached in this context to try to remove any doubts he may have |
||||
|
159 |
Record of Interview between |
18 |
Jinnah has assured Mountbatten that |
221 |
|
Mountbatten and Nishtar |
Govt of West Punjab will not interfere |
|||
|
and Akhtar Hussain |
with rights or irrigation from rivers of |
Punjab and Mountbatten will ask Menon to secure similar assurance from Congress; Pakistan policy on accession of States; Nishtar asks that at forthcoming meeting with States there should be separate representation for those States included in groups of which majority want to join Indian Union but do not wish to join themselves; Pakistan’s representation abroad; question of tariffs in Instrument of Accession; Pakistan Govt will claim to succeed to treaty obligations and
lviii
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number
159 (cont).
1 61 Burrows to Mountbatten Tel. 210-S
162 Viceroy’s Personal Report No. 13
Date Main subject or subjects Page
July
rights of H.M.G. in regard to Kalat; meeting with Kalat delegation
18 Refers to No. 138; Congress fears about 224
security of Calcutta ; examines likelihood of trouble and outlines precautions being taken; has urged Army Commander to provide three additional Indian Army battalions for critical period in August; does not believe that Muslim leaders intend to attempt destruction of city though there is possibility that some Muslim elements may get out of hand ;
Nehru may be assured that ‘Calcutta shall not be destroyed’
18 Little change in general state of affairs 225
in country ; Jenkins’ note on points in dispute in Punjab Partition Committee; intends to visit Punjab to study situation and urge agreement on administration of three Districts seriously in dispute ;
Radcliffe’s views on Bengal and Punjab Boundary Commissions;
Sikh threats to resort to violent action if they are not satisfied with Boundary Commission’s award; establishment of unified military command in potential disturbed areas; joint statement giving full assurances to minorities; referendum in Sylhet and complaints in relation to it ; reconstitution of Interim Govt has been worst headache to date ; reactions of political leaders to new formula for reconstitution which has now been accepted; Liaquat has been made aware that Mountbatten cannot make Orders-in-Council amending the 1935 Act for Pakistan on advice of Jinnah as latter is going to become constitutional Governor-General of Pakistan; appeal to British service personnel in India to stay on for transitional period; pays credit to Steering Committee of Partition Council ; reduction in personal staff after transfer of power; has suggested to Nehru that he should appoint an official Secretary to the Governor-General ; Mountbatten’s accommodation; dinner parties to celebrate Bastille Day and Mountbatten’s silver wedding; official ceremonies on transfer
CH. I PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
lix
Name and Number
162 (cant.)
164 Indian Independence Act, 1947
165 Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 9261
166 Listowel to Mountbatten Letter
Date
Main subject or subjects
Page
July
of power; new dominions have not accepted the Union Jack in upper canton of their flags ; arrangements for dominions to fly Union Jack, white ensign of navy and Dominion Governors-General flag; Jinnah’s court circular in Dawn
18 An Act ‘to make provision for the
setting up in India of two independent Dominions’, to substitute other provisions for certain provisions of the G. of I. Act 1935, which apply outside those Dominions, and to provide for other consequential or connected matters
18 Royal Assent has been given to Bill
1 8 Impossible to convince Burmese of advantages of remaining in Commonwealth ; Colonial Office have agreed in principle to appointment of Indian Agents in E. Africa, W. Indies,
Fiji and Mauritius as requested by Nehru; announcement about partition of Armed Forces ; praises Mountbatten’s handling of question of Governor- Generalships ; is sorry that it was not possible to announce appointments to Governorships during passage of Bill through Parliament and comments on Cunningham and Killearn, Slim’s refusal to accept invitation to be C.-in-C. of Army of Indian Dominion ; expresses hope that latest device for future of Interim Govt will bridge time remaining before 15 August; is arranging for Krishna Menon to meet Opposition leaders and need for someone at India House with organising and administrative ability; strain on Viceroy and his staff; appreciates political importance of providing Indian navy with cruiser; Ismay will explain new set-up in Commonwealth Relations Office on his return; completion of work of Boundary Commissions and reactions of Sikhs; need to avoid statement giving Travancore leverage in asserting its independence or economic autonomy; discussions with representatives of Hyderabad; Bill has
lx
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number Date
July
166 ( cant .)
167 Krishna Menon to Mountbatten 18
Letter
168 Mountbatten to Listowel 18
Tel. 2036-S
169 Listowel to Mountbatten 18
Tel. 9305 (extract)
170 Gazette of India Extraordinary 19
Notification by Secretariat of the Governor-General (Reforms)
171 Partition Council Meeting 19
Case No. P.C. 69/7/47
172 Nehru to Mountbatten 19
Letter
173 Abell to Liaquat Ali Khan 19
Letter
Main subject or subjects Page
received Royal Assent, its passage through Parliament; Ismay’s departure;
Nehru’s failure to respond to Smuts’s efforts to secure detente about Indians in S. Africa and desirability of avoiding repetition of last year’s controversy at next meeting of U.N.O. Assembly;
Jagjivan Ram’s visit to London ; suggestion that someone versed in Dominion procedures should be attached to Mountbatten’s staff during next few months.
Bill is now law and H.M.G. have been 255
better than their word on time-table ; discussion with Attlee, Law Officers and Henderson about States; Jinnah has overplayed his hand; Listowel,
Henderson and Cripps have promised to do what they could in speeches to indicate that H.M.G. would not welcome Balkanisation or Dominion Status for Princes
Refers to No. 147; replies to Listowel’s 256
comments on the Draft Order for the reconstitution of the Interim Govt
Refers to No. 124; agrees that statement 257 should be made to effect that British Forces will not be used operationally after 15 August and will not be available to intervene in internal disorder; as far as possible families should move with units concerned
The Executive Council (Transitional 257
Provisions) Order, 1947
Future economic relations between 259
the two dominions ; flight of capital from Pakistan and possible remedial measures
Composition of Indian Cabinet ; 260
existing members will continue and five will double up to take charge of portfolios and departments vacated by Muslim League nominees ; stresses that arrangements are provisional only and subject to change in future
Requests confirmation of distribution 261
of portfolios in provisional govt of Pakistan
CH. I PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
lxi
Name and Number Date
July
177 G. of I., External Affairs and 19
Commonwealth Relations Dept to H.M. Minister Kabul Tel. 166
|
178 |
Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 9329 |
19 |
|
180 |
Abell to Carter Tel. 205 2-S (extract) |
19 |
Main subject or subjects Page
In view of Shah Mahmud’s more 266
reasonable attitude and on understanding that he will not in any sense be regarded as official emissary of Afghan Govt, G. of I. agrees that there might be advantage in establishing informal contact with Shah Mahmud in Delhi
Refers to No. 158; explains reasons why 267
proposition to make Baluchistan a Governor’s Province seems doubtful
Jinnah is most anxious to have 269
Cunningham but is embarrassed at any suggestion that one Governor should be treated in special way; need to seize every vacancy for Governorships offered to British is of paramount importance and prospects of Pakistan remaining within Commonwealth may partly depend on this
CHAPTER 2
Preparations for Transjer and Partition. Problems of law and order; Formation of the Punjab Boundary Force: 20 July to 8 August 1947
Name and Number
1 81 Mountbatten to Nehru Letter 1446/16
|
Date |
Main subject or subjects |
Page |
|
1947 July 20 |
Refers to No. 114; admits there is |
270 |
apparent contradiction between para. 13 of 3 June Statement and clause 3(3) of India Bill on Sylhet but can recollect no intention of treating Sylhet district differently from Muslim majority districts of Bengal ; has always been understood that in event of Sylhet referendum being in favour of amalgamation with East Bengal, provisional boundaries of that province will include Sylhet district subject to final decision of Boundary Commission; appreciates difficulty in transferring and retransferring territory but, as Nehru realises, similar problem arises in regard to division of Bengal and Punjab; explains why Nehru’s suggestions for representing Assamese interests are not feasible
lxn
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number Date
July
182 Mieville to Jinnah 20
Letter 90/11
183 Mieville to Jinnah 20
Letter
184 Minutes of Viceroy’s 20
Twenty First Miscellaneous Meeting
|
187 |
Mountbatten to Listowel |
20 |
|
Tel. 543-GT |
||
|
188 |
Lockhart to Mountbatten |
20 |
|
Tel. CA/149 |
189 Note by Abell 21
190 Abell to Beaumont 21
Letter 1446/17
191 Minutes of Viceroy’s 21
Sixty First Staff Meeting Items 2, 4 and 6
193 Mountbatten to Nehru 21
Letter
|
Main subject or subjects |
Page |
|
Present information indicates that |
271 |
Frontier ministry has no intention of resigning but Dr. Khan Sahib has indicated that he would resign if he could be assured that general election would be held in reasonably near future
Asks if Jinnah would be prepared to 271
meet Abdul Ghaftar Khan to negotiate agreement on basis of (1) complete provincial automony for N.W.F.P. in all matters except defence, external affairs and communications; (2) right for Province to secede from Pakistan;
(3) that contiguous Pathan areas should be allowed to join N.W.F.P.
(1) Military measures in the Punjab; 272
(2) The retention of British Officers
in the Indian Armed Forces; (3) Posting of officials in the Punjab; (4) Muslim officials
Transmits result of North West 277
Frontier Province Referendum
Refers to No. 45; assumes Mountbatten 278
will regard result of referendum in N.W.F.P. as decisive vote for Pakistan and therefore of policy contrary to present Ministry’s; reviews position and requests permission, if he cannot persuade present Ministry to resign and accept League Ministry, to dismiss Ministers and assume powers under Section 93
Mountbatten agrees with general 278
policy of letting Sikhs blow off steam and not attempting to put their leaders in jail
Jenkins would appreciate advance 279
information of general purport of Boundary Commission Award when time comes ; even a few hours warning would be better than none
(2) Issues connected with the 279
partition work in the Punjab;
(4) The North-West Frontier Province;
(6) Baluchistan
Refers to Nos. 138 and 161; Congress 282
fears about security of Calcutta; reports Governor’s views and his assurance that everything possible will be done to prevent Calcutta being
CH. 2 PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
lxiii
|
Name and Number |
Date |
|
193 ( cont .) |
July |
|
194 Nehru to Mountbatten Letter |
21 |
195 Nehru to Mountbatten 21
Letter
196 Secretaries to Punjab Boundary 21
Commission to Abell Tel. unnumbered
Main subject or subjects Page
destroyed; asks Nehru to use his influence to prevent any provocation by Hindus on 15 August
Tension between Hindus and Muslims 283
in Calcutta; process of administrative separation in Bengal should begin before Boundary Commission Award is given; continued retention in W. Bengal and Calcutta of officers who have opted for Pakistan and E. Bengal only leads to friction; these officers, together with their counterparts in E. Bengal who have opted for W. Bengal, should be transferred immediately; Punjabi Muslims in battalions in Calcutta, about whom there have been serious complaints, should be transferred once sufficient Indian troops have been sent; if situation deteriorates in Calcutta there will be immediate repercussions in other parts of Bengal and thus separation, subject to decisions of Boundary Commission, should be completed by 3 August
Refers to No. 181 ; only solution is to 285
expedite decision of Boundary Commission so that there is only one transfer involving Sylhet after Commission has reported; close analysis of voting figures in referendum will assist Commission in determining how Sylhet should be divided; trusts that every facility will be given to Assam Govt to present their views ; presses for simpler frontier based on some natural barrier and asserts that national frontiers should be determined by reference to national rather than to sectional interests; has instructed Baldev Singh to depute some senior Indian officers to present defence point of view to Boundary Commissions
Refers to Vol. XI, No. 59; requests 286
that plan submitted to Mountbatten on behalf of Sikhs and map he studied should be forwarded to Punjab Boundary Commission immediately
]xiv
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
|
Name and Number |
Date |
|
July |
|
|
197 Chiefs of Staff: Committee |
21 |
|
C.O.S. (47)90^ Meeting |
|
|
Minute 1 |
|
|
198 Listowel to Mountbatten |
21 |
|
Tel. 9386 |
199 Baldev Singh to Mountbatten 22
Letter
200 Mountbatten to Radcliffe 22
Letter 1446/17
204 Listowel to Mountbatten 22
Letter
205 Partition Council Meeting 22
Case Nos. P.C. 74/8/47, 80/8/47,
81/8/47, 82/8/47
206 Secretaries to Punjab Boundary 22
Commission to Abell Tel. unnumbered
|
Main subject or subjects |
Page |
|
Services Staff Colleges ; Admission |
287 |
|
of Indian Students |
|
|
Refers to paras. 1 and 2 of No. 132, |
288 |
Tribal Agreements, in view of Section 7(I)(c) of Independence Act no formal assurances can be given to Afghans that existing agreements will continue to be honoured; as N.W.F.P. is to be included in Pakistan, provisional govt should approach tribes on lines corresponding to negotiations being undertaken with States ; continuity of policy will have stabilising effect; trusts Jinnah can give Shah Mahmud some comforting reassurance as to future relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Agrees with views expressed by Nehru 289
(No. 195) that it is necessary to have a natural boundary line as far as possible and that defence point of view should be put before Boundary Commission;
Indian Officers should get their orders today in order to enable them to prepare their cases
Punjab Partition Committee have 290
stated that they will accept Boundary Commission Award but feel risk of disorder would be greatly increased if Award had to be announced at very last minute before 15 August; asks if there is any chance of announcing Award by 10 August
Desirability of issuing formal Instruments 300
of Instructions to Governors-General and Governors
(1) Plan of action in the event of 301
possible clashes or disturbances in the neighbourhood of the boundaries between the two Dominions after 15 August; (2) Issues connected with the partition work in the Punjab;
(3) Draft Statement by Partition Council; (4) Partition Council to function temporarily as Joint Defence Council
Refers to Nos. 121 and 144; 303
requests that communications exchanged between Viceroy and Secretary of State on subject of Henderson’s
CH. 2 PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION lxv
Name and Number Date
July
206 (cant.)
207 Mountbatten to Baldev Singh 23
Letter
208 Mountbatten to Nehru 23
Letter
209 Radcliffe to Mountbatten 23
Letter
210 C. P. Scott to Jawand Singh 23
Letter
21 1 Lockhart to Mountbatten 23
Letter (extract)
212 Rowan to Harris 23
Letter
214 Note by Jenkins 23
Main subject or subjects Page
speech in Commons explaining terms of reference of Boundary Commission should be forwarded to Punjab Boundary Commission immediately
Refers to No. 199; point has already 304
been raised in Partition Council and Mountbatten thinks that Council would not be in favour of reconsidering their decision; explains that it would be embarrassing either for G. of I. as a whole to put point of view to Boundary Commission or for the two Provisional Govts to put opposite views through representatives who are still members of a single Army
Refers to No. 195; has explained to 304
Mr Bardoloi that, in relation to Sylhet, it is now too late to consider altering position of Commission or appointing assessors to assist it ; has written to Baldev Singh concerning question of putting defence point of view before Boundary Commissions
Refers to No. 200; appreciates 305
importance of earliest possible date for Award; explains why he does not think he can manage 10 August; thinks that he can promise 12 August and will do the earlier date if he possibly can
Explains why Mountbatten cannot 305
receive a deputation on behalf of military grantees of Montgomery District in connection with the boundary to be determined between India and Pakistan
Post-referendum problem in N.W.F.P.; 306
risk of disturbances and activities of Faqir of Ipi
Matters referred to in No. 125 are of some 308 importance and delicacy Prime Minister feels that answer should set out position fully and plainly and has approved draft reply (No. 225)
Large Sikh Diwan has been advertised 309
to be held at Nankana Sahib,
Sheikhupura district, where public meetings are prohibited, on 27 July; outlines measures which will be adopted to prevent meeting taking place
Ixvi
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number
215 Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 9507
216 Abell to Secretaries to
Punjab Boundary Commission Tel. 563-GT
218 Subbarayan to Attlee Letter
219 Listowel to Attlee Minute 131/47
220 Mountbatten to Hydari Tel. 291 8-S
221 Mountbatten to Attlee Tel. 2912-S via India Office
222 Record of Interview
between Ismay and Jinnah
223 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 2915-S
224 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 2916-S
Main subject or subjects
Refers to No. 145 ; confirms that Mountbatten will cease to be Governor-General immediately after midnight on 14 August; transmits form of oath of allegiance and oath of office taken by Governors-General of Dominions
Refers to No. 206; explains that Henderson’s remarks were wrongly reported in Indian Press and transmits relevant passage from his speech ; claims privilege for correspondence on subject but says this has been made available to Radcliffe who will show it in confidence to his colleagues Congratulates Attlee on passage of Independence Act; remarks that introduction of separate electorates in 1909 sowed seeds of bitterness between two communities Submits for approval enclosures prepared under the aegis of the Chiefs of Staff on (1) India — Defence Requirements : brief for negotiations ; and (2) British Defence Requirements in India
Explains that it is for Boundary
Commission to interpret their terms of reference; has been asked more than once to define them but has had to refuse Expresses thanks for No. 119; India appreciates H.M.G’s difficulties but any repudiation of debts will have worst possible effect ; if question comes up in discussion H.M.G. should adopt line that it admits obligation even though no large payments can be made at present Ismay specifies a number of incidents which have led Mountbatten almost to despair about possibility of friendly co-operation with Jinnah; Jinnah replies and ends by saying he will always be Mountbatten’s friend and that he should be judged by deeds not words Indicates that he has secured agreement of Partition Council to publication of statement in No. 224 and requests that Attlee should be informed Transmits Press Note and text of statement referred to in No. 223 in which representatives of two future
Date
July
23
23
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
CH. 2 PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
lxvii
Name and Number
224 ( cont .)
225 Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 92
226 Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 9551
227 Mountbatten to Listowel Letter
228 Viceroy’s Personal Report No. 14
Date Main subject or subjects Page
July
Govts reaffirm assurances to minorities, pledge themselves to accept awards of Boundary Commissions, emphasise that violence will not be tolerated and explain agreement to establish as from 1 August a special military command in Punjab
24 Refers to No. 125 explains why 327
possibility of a Privy Councillorship should not be mentioned to Jinnah
24 Refers to No. 144; transmits two 329
parliamentary questions which have been put down on terms of reference of Boundary Commission and seeks concurrence in or suggestions on proposed reply
24 Burmese decision to leave Commonwealth; 330
concern that India may also wish to leave and possibility of some looser form of Commonwealth association ;
Aung San’s death; partition of Armed Forces ; Jinnah’s offer of E. Bengal governorship to Killearn; Slim’s decision not to accept appointment as C.-in-C. ; Krishna Menon has been a valuable contact; official telegram about cruiser; Smuts and Indian position in S. Africa;
Jagjivan Ram’s visit to England; welcomes idea of having an expert on Dominion procedure; expresses admiration at way in which Independence Bill went through Parliament and congratulates Listowel and members of Govt
25 Referendum in N.W.F.P.; visit to Lahore 333
and meeting with Punjab Partition Committee; all members of the Punjab Partition Committee declared their parties would abide by decision of Boundary Commission; special military measures to be taken in twelve of fourteen disputed districts in Punjab; Partition Council are delighted at solution of Punjab deadlock; Partition Council Statement; meeting with Kalat delegation; meetings with Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar; has told Hyderabad delegation that Nizam must accede and has co-ordinated plan of campaign with Monckton to bring Nizam in; importance of Hyderabad and Travancore in determining attitude of other States; honorary military ranks and
Ixviii
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number Date
July
228 ( cont .)
|
229 Jinnah to Mieville |
25 |
|
Letter |
|
230 Tara Singh to Attlee |
25 |
|
Letter E/101 |
|
|
231 Listowel to Mountbatten |
25 |
Letter
|
233 Weightman to Listowel |
25 |
|
Letter (extract) |
|
|
235 Listowel to Mountbatten |
25 |
|
Tel. 9616 |
|
|
236 Listowel to Mountbatten |
25 |
|
Tel. 9607 |
237 Moutitbatten to Attlee 25
Letter
Main subject or subjects Page
military decorations for Rulers ; offer of three subject accession is tremendous advance for States ; question of Congress agreement to terms of accession for States ; Jinnah will offer States Treaties of Accession on same lines but insists on dealing with each State separately; tension between Pakistan and India officials; Dominion Governors-General Flag and White Ensign ; Lady Mountbatten has visited hospitals and Punjab Public Health School at Lahore; press comments about destruction in Lahore are exaggerated Refers to No. 183; is unable to meet Abdul 340 Ghaftar Khan to discuss an agreement as matters involved can be dealt with only by Constituent Assembly of Pakistan Asks Attlee to receive a Sikh deputation 340
from the Shiromani Akali Dal Partition Council Statement; trusts 341
solution of problem of Interim Govt is working satisfactorily in practice ; retention of Mountbatten’s staff officers during transition period; flags; tragic events in Rangoon; U.S. State Dept attitude towards States ; attitude of French Govt in regard to Hyderabad; question of applying Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947 to Indian pensioners in U.K. ; official telegram about cruiser; inaugural luncheon for association of Indian Journalists in London; luncheon for Krishna Menon
Explains why he is unable to accept 346
Jinnah’s offer of the post of Governor of Baluchistan
Refers to Nos. 223 and 224; transmits 352
congratulations from Prime Minister Refers to No. 226; explains that M.P. is 352
agreeable to making his questions non-oral on condition that reference is made in reply to shrines of other communities which puts them on same footing as Sikh shrines; transmits proposed reply and asks for Mountbatten’s views
Refers to No. 153 ; masterly way in which H.M.G. managed to get Bill through in record time saved breakdown
353
CH. 2 PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
lxix
Name and Number
237 (cont.)
238 Record of Interview between Jenkins and Swaran Singh
243 Cabinet India and Burma Committee Paper I.B. (47)147 245 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 2957-S
246 Rumbold to Williams Tel. 9701
247 Nehru to Mountbatten Letter
248 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 2963-S
Date
Main subject or subjects
Page
July
over reconstitution of Interim Govt; unanimous advice of King and Cabinet has made a difhcult decision to stay on easy; negotiations with States and meeting in Chamber of Princes; royal engagement
25 Jenkins states that Swaran Singh 354
should tell leaders of his party to discourage Diwan at Nankana Sahib (No. 214); Swaran Singh is still anxious to get whole or part of Montgomery district and Nankana Sahib but Jenkins says Sikhs must dismiss from their minds any idea of large territorial gains ; Jenkins says it is not his business to advise members of Boundary Commission or to make any recommendations
26 Memorandum by Listowel on Ceremonies 361
in India on 15 August and Flags
26 Partition Council have agreed that 364
maintenance of independence of Judiciary is ot paramount importance and that right of proportionate pension should be granted in certain circumstances; has sent telegram to this effect to all Governors
26 Refers to No. 20; so far as arrangements 365 before transfer of power are concerned, all matters regarding content of treaty are being covered either by provisions of Act or in separate correspondence
26 Expresses surprise at attitude of C.-in-C. 365
and conduct of Mohamad Ali regarding appointment of Joint Financial Advisers to Supreme Commander; states that general attitude of C.-in-C. is not in keeping with position as it has developed and asserts that Supreme Commander will not be free to carry out administration in accordance with his own ideas; set-up of future Joint Defence Council will have to be reconsidered if there is any doubt regarding position of Indian Govt and its defence forces
26 Transmits personal message from Jinnah 367
to Cunningham in which former says he is glad latter has agreed to serve as Governor of N.W.F.P.
lxx
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number Date Main subject or subjects Page
July
250 Viceroy’s Conference Paper 27
V.C.P. 140
251 Mountbatten to Listowel 27
Tel. 2970-S
252 Mountbatten to Listowel 27
Tel. 2971-S
253 Mountbatten to Listowel 27
Tel. 2973-S
254 Jenkins to Mountbatten 27
Tel. 195-G (extract)
256 Minutes of Viceroy’s 28
Sixty Fifth Staff Meeting Items 2-3, 6-8
261 Cabinet India and Burma 28
Committee LB. (47)43rd Meeting Minute 2
267 Directive from Sir A. Smith 29
afs/34
268 Abell to Morris-Jones 29
Letter 1996/5
270 Record of Interview 29
between Mountbatten and Nehru (extract)
272 Jenkins to Mountbatten 29
Tel. 197-G
The possibility of disturbances in 369
the Punjab; attempts to subvert troops in areas concerned
Transmits text of Oath of Office for 370
Ministers
Refers to No. 204; Instrument of 370
Instructions and forms of oath Appointment of Commanders of the 371
armed forces of two new Dominions Situation worsening owing to Sikhs’ 372
refusal to await Boundary Commission award and their apparent reluctance to accept it
(2) the reconstitution of the Interim 373
Government, C.-in-C’s misunderstanding of new situation; (3) principles to govern employment after 15 th August of British Officers serving with the Armed Forces of the two new Dominions; (6) the Government of the future Dominion of India ; (7) the retention of India within the Commonwealth; (8) the possibility of disturbances in the Punjab
Refers to No. 243 ; Ceremonies in India 381
on 15th August and Flags for new Dominions
Use of British Troops after 14 August 394
1947; issued to selected British commanders on Top Secret and personal basis
Conveys request from Mountbatten for 397
Morris-Jones to examine question how there can be looser form of Commonwealth association allowing India to remain a member even if it becomes a Republic
Confusion over C.-in-C. and 399
reconstitution of Govt; assures Nehru that he has complete faith in Auchinleck’s integrity and that latter had not seen order splitting Govt when minutes were written ; explains that Auchinleck is asking Trivedi to visit him and says that Trivedi should help to clear up confusion
Punjab Partition Committee has not 401
yet made promised statement; draft has been prepared by Daultana but Swaran Singh says he does not know
CH. 2 PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION
lxxi
Name and Number Date
July
272 ( cont .)
|
273 |
Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 3011-S |
29 |
|
274 |
Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 3012-S |
29 |
|
276 |
Provisional Joint Defence Council Meeting Case Nos. J.D.C. 9/2/47, 1 1/2/47 |
29 |
|
278 |
Minutes of Viceroy’s Twenty Third Miscellaneous Meeting |
29 |
Main subject or subjects Page
what to do in view of Giani Kartar Singh’s statement that Sikhs would not accept Boundary Commission’s award unless they considered it just; has advised Swaran Singh to contact Baldev Singh and suggests Mountbatten should ask Baldev Singh to put pressure on Giani to make statement accepting award; demonstration at Nankana Sahib has fizzled out
Oaths of Office and Oath of Secrecy 401
Refers to No. 273 ; transmits text of Oath 402 of Office for Governors and text of Oath of Office for Ministers
(1) Position of British Troops after 403
15 August; (2) Situation in the Punjab boundary areas
Mountbatten, Jinnah, Liaquat and 405
Lockhart discuss post-referendum problem in N.W.F.P. ; agreement that papers should be prepared for meeting of Pakistan Executive Council on (1) form of instructions which Viceroy should issue to Governor of N.W.F.P. on future government of that province; (2) problem arising from resignation of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as a member of the Constituent Assembly
279 Record of Interview between Mountbatten and Jinnah and Liaquat (extract)
283 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 3039-S
286 Mountbatten to Jenkins Tel. 3041-S
29 (4) Bihar; (5) Arbitral Tribunal; (6) Amnesty 409
to be declared on 15th August;
(7) Flags
30 Provisional Joint Defence Council 413
agrees that Statement should be made on role of British Forces and prefers question and answer in Parliament to announcement by Govt; transmits suggested question and answer ; Partition Council accepts that no RAF squadrons will be available for operational use 30 Explains that Partition Council have 415
been discussing action to prevent disturbances in neighbourhood of boundaries between Dominions before and after 15 August; to cover period up to 15 August has been asked to instruct Jenkins to declare districts likely to be affected as ‘disturbed areas’ under Punjab legislation as from 1 August; asks Jenkins to take action now to cover period before 15 August
lxxii
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number Date
July
287 Minutes of Viceroy’s 30
Twenty Fourth Miscellaneous Meeting
289 Record of Interview between 30
Mountbatten and Tuker and Ranking
290 Record of Interview between 30
Mountbatten and Ghosh and Suhrawardy
291 Record of Interview 30
between Mountbatten and Suhrawardy
Main subject or subjects Page
Meeting between Mountbatten and 416
Provincial Separation Committee in Bengal on (1) the Arbitral Tribunal ;
(2) the continuation of the Partition Council after 15 August; (3) Internal security; (4) the inclusion of roads, etc. among the assets to be divided;
(5) Electrical fittings, Typewriters, etc;
(6) method of assessing present value of Government buildings and lands ;
(7) money for East Bengal; (8) Building Materials; (9) Food; (10) the posting of officials
Mountbatten asks whether it is necessary 422 to establish in Bengal a system of joint command similar to the one in the Punjab and also whether there is confidence that military authorities can deal with likely disturbances in Calcutta; Tuker, supported by Burrows and Ranking, says joint command is not necessary;
Tuker anticipates larger disturbances than before in and around Calcutta but says army is ready to deal with them; Tuker asks that steps be taken to expedite provision of H.Q. for E. Bengal;
Mountbatten agrees to take matter up upon his return to Delhi
Ghosh and Suhrawardy confirm that 423
they will issue joint statement similar to one put out by Central Partition Council; Mountbatten reports discussion at No. 289 to effect that joint command organisation is not necessary in Bengal ; Suhrawardy indicates grounds for concern which are discounted by Ghosh; the Governor’s reassurance; money available for move of E. Bengal Govt to Dacca; future of Punjabi Mussulmans in Calcutta armed police ; choice to be offered to Govt servants ; communal proportions in educational institutions
Suhrawardy suggests that E. and W. 424
Bengal should exchange representatives after transfer of power; Mountbatten welcomes suggestion and undertakes to put it to Partition Council ;
Suhrawardy adds that he and Ghosh have arranged weekly visits to each other; Suhrawardy is enthusiastic when Mountbatten divulges that Jinnah has
CH. 2 PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION lxxiii
|
Name and Number |
Date |
|
July |
|
|
291 (cont.) |
|
|
292 Jenkins to Mountbatten |
30 |
|
Letter 698 |
293 Listowel to Mountbatten 30
Tel. 9857
294 Notes by Mohammad Ali 30
and Spence
298 Ismay to Mountbatten Minute
Main subject or subjects Page
asked for Rowlands to come out as Governor of E. Bengal
No improvement in communal situation 425
at Lahore and feeling in that city is perhaps worse than it has ever been; bomb outrages at Amritsar; situation in Amritsar and Gurdaspur villages gives cause for considerable anxiety;
Sikhs seem to be aggressors in rural areas and they have made certain preparations some of which have been disclosed prematurely; Sikh meeting at Nankana Sahib ; partition work is making slow progress and a considerable muddle on 15 August cannot be avoided; shortage of rain and prospect of poor harvests ; expects to relinquish office on 14 August and to leave for Karachi on 15 August; Enclosure: note of interview with Giani Kartar Singh; Jenkins insists that Sikhs have no option but to accept Boundary Commission award and that Sikhs are doing themselves no good by their demonstrations and outrages; Giani says that Sikhs will not accept an unjust award and that he will not agree to make statement similar to one made by Partition Council ; Giani explains that Sikhs favour amalgamation of non-Punjabi speaking districts with U.P. or with any new Province and would try to organise the rest of E. Punjab, along with Sikh States, into a Sikh majority province
Asks whether it is proposed that 43 1
Pakwasa should be appointed Governor of Central Provinces and Berar; explains that Berar Agreement of 1936, under which Governor is appointed after consultation with Nizam, will lapse on 15 August; suggests that Nizam be urgently consulted and says that pending reply Pakwasa’s name will not be submitted to king
The effect of the referendum in the 432
N.W.F.P. on the position of the Ministry in that Province
Explains that Abell and Short consider that it would be useless and impolitic to press Baldev Singh to persuade Giani to
3i
439
lxxiv
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number
298 (1 cont .)
299 Jenkins to Mountbatten Tel. 203-G
300 Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 95
301 Pakistan Cabinet Meeting Case No. 1/1/47
302 Viceroy’s Personal Report
No. 15
Date Main subject or subjects Page
July
make statement as suggested in No. 272; if Mountbatten agrees, a reply will be sent to Jenkins accordingly
31 Refers to No. 286; whole of Punjab was 440 declared a disturbed area under Punjab Disturbed Areas Act 1947 on 31 May; presumes that notification of 3 1 May and Punjab Disturbed Areas Act continue in force automatically after 15 August
31 Transmits message from Attlee in 440
which latter states intention, on occasion of end of Mountbatten’s ‘short but great’ Viceroyalty and transfer of power, to submit Mountbatten’s name to King for Earldom; if King approves, announcement will be made in U.K. on 15 August; asks if proposal is agreeable to Mountbatten
August
1 The effect of the referendum in the 441
N.W.F.P. on the position of the Ministry in that Province
1 Pressure of work and formation of Joint 443
Defence Council; disturbances in the Punjab; rumours that Sikhs intend to make trouble after announcement of Boundary Commission award and evidence that new Dominions will be firm in dealing with disturbances ; meeting with Bengal Separation Council; meeting with Burrows and Army and Area Commanders in Bengal; meeting with Ghosh and Suhrawardy and issue of joint statement similar to one made by Central Partition Council; Sikhs have ‘ratted’ on undertaking to issue similar statement ; erection of temporary buildings and repairs to old buildings at Dacca and supplies for E. Bengal; date for Muslim League departure from Calcutta; difficult Joint Defence Council and Partition Council meeting on, in particular, division of air squadrons between new Dominions ; Indian contingent in Japan ; question of Ministry in N.W.F.P. and advice given by Pakistan Cabinet; Nehru’s desire to visit Kashmir and decision, after meeting with Gandhi, Nehru and Patel, that Gandhi should go instead; interview with Nehru on Commonwealth defence arrangements;
CH. 2 PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION lxxv
Name and Number Date
Main subject or subjects
Page
302 (cont.)
304 Note by Steering Committee
305 Abell to Abbott Tel. 3094-S
306 Telephone message from Abbott
308 Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 9962
August
continuation of Mountbatten’s personal reports and composition of Indian Cabinet; Nehru’s interview with Elmhirst about command of Indian Air Forces; visit of Dr Shariar;
Mountbatten’s address to Chamber of Princes; attempt on Sir C. P.’s life and accession of Travancore; Monckton’s difficulties in Hyderabad; attempts to persuade Dholpur to accede; negotiations with, and behaviour of, Indore; correspondence with Bhopal whose extraordinary attitude is making his position more difficult; luncheon party for Rulers and announcement of accessions ; I.N.A. prisoners; conditions in Indonesia; postcript ; impending arrival of Indore and Bhopal
1 Circulates draft statement by chairman 457
of A.F.R.C. on ‘Position of Supreme Commander and his staff during reconstitution’; recommends that Joint Defence Council should accept statement in principle
1 Refers to No. 272; Mountbatten is 458
convinced that Kartar Singh should not be pressed; Tara Singh’s statement suggests that there may be no serious trouble for moment ; asks whether Jenkins feels that statement by Partition Committee would be suitable
1 Refers to No. 305 and Enclosure to 459
No. 292; Jenkins confirms that Kartar Singh should not be pressed to make statement; there is going to be trouble with Sikhs and raids on Muslim villages have begun; cites casualties in Amritsar rural area ; statement by Punjab Partition Committee would have no effect ; Jenkins will consult Committee again
1 Seeks confirmation of press reports 461
indicating that Constituent Assembly will, at midnight on 14 August, authorise Nehru to ask Mountbatten to accept Governor-Generalship and to submit names of new Cabinet; asks Mountbatten to inform Attlee immediately if revision of procedure is contemplated
Ixxvi
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number Date
August
309 Listowel to Mountbatten 1
Tel. 9980
310 Listowel to Mountbatten 1
Letter
3 11 Commonwealth Relations Office 1
to British High Commissioners in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa Tel. 65
312 Patel to Mountbatten 2
Letter
314 Abell to Harris 2
Letter 1446/5
315 Christie to Tyson 2
Letter 1299/2
316 Listowel to Attlee 2
Minute 138/47
Main subject or subjects Page
Refers to No. 198, note 3 ; expresses 462
regret that Afghan Prime Minister was unable to see Jinnah but is glad that Pakistan Government is considering its attitude towards tribes; is sending memorandum on possibility of promoting exchange of views between Pakistan and India (and H.M.G. if invited) on problem of frontier defence and relations with Afghan tribes
Refers to No. 309 and forwards 463
memorandum on ‘North West Frontier Tribal Area and Afghanistan’ ; H.M.G. appreciate danger of intervening without being asked and recognise that initiative in this respect must come from Pakistan ; trusts that Pakistan Govt will appreciate wider aspects outlined in para. 3 of memorandum
Refers to Vol XI, No. 203 ; proposed 466
alteration of King’s title by omission of term ‘Emperor of India’
Composition of Joint Defence Council 466
requires reconsideration in view of fact that, if original composition is adhered to, Pakistan would be represented by both its Governor- General and its Defence Member whereas India would be represented only by its Defence Member; difference is further accentuated by attitude recently displayed by C.-in-C. ; suggests strengthening Indian representation by addition of another Minister and requests early consideration of this matter
Forwards letter from Rau giving 474
opinion about secession from Commonwealth and particularly the point whether there is any difference as between India and the Dominions under the Statute of Westminster
Disposal of Governors’ letters and 477
provincial records
Succession to present Indian membership 478 of U.N.O.; refers to Indian and Burma Committee agreement (Vol. XI,
No. 244, Minute 2) that India should be regarded as continuing international personality of former ‘India’ ; Congress
CH. 2 PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION lxxvii
Name and Number Date
August
316 ( cont .)
317 Listowel to Mountbatten 2
Letter
318 RadclifFe to Abell 2
Message
319 Minutes of Viceroy’s Sixty 2
Sixth Staff Meeting Item 13
320 Record of Interview between 2
Mountbatten and Nehru
Main subject or subjects Page
accept this interpretation but it has yet to be accepted by League ; submits telegram to Mountbatten asking him to acquaint Jinnah with position
Refers to Nos 227 and 228; announcement 479 about appointments of Governors- General and Governors; Dominion Governors; provision of Dominions expert; sentiments expressed by Mountbatten upon passing of Act ;
Mountbatten’ s meeting with Kalat delegation and his talks with Dewan of Travancore and Hyderabad Delegation; reiterates reservations about some of Mountbatten’s comments in No. 234 and expresses view that if it is impossible to secure accession of key States before 15 August, H.M.G. will be satisfied if these and rest agree to be represented internationally by appropriate Dominion; Pakistan has simpler problem in dealing with smaller number of States; Kashmir’s terms for accession to Pakistan ;
Resolution on Services; report of Union Constitution Committee of Constituent Assembly; possibility of reunion of Bihar with W. Bengal ; messages for publication on 15 August; Mountbatten’s visit to Bengal
Explains difference of opinion among 483
members of Bengal Boundary Commission as to scope of their own duty in respect of Sylhet; gives his own view and asks whether any further instruction can be given so as to put matter beyond dispute ; Enclosures : message for Abell and note by same explaining that Mountbatten agrees with Radcliffe’s view but that RadclifFe himself must decide matter
The North West Frontier Province; 485
question of dismissing Ministry
Party for representatives of three parties 486
from Lords and Commons to meet Krishna Menon; jail releases; I.N.A. prisoners ; Governors’ fortnightly letters ;
Nehru’s proposal to call for personal letters from Governors and Prime Ministers and Mountbatten’s proposal to invite Governors to conference;
lxxviii
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number
320 (cant.)
321 H.M. Minister Kabul to G.O.I.,
External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations Dept Tel. 75
322 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 3100-S
323 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 3108-S
324 Mountbatten to Wylie Tel. 3118-S
326 Short to Cripps Letter (extract)
327 Lockhart to Mountbatten Tel. CA-158
Date Main subject or subjects Page
August
recommendation that Sir Fazl Ali’s appointment as permanent Judge of Federal Court should be made before 15 August; appointments of Pakistan High Commissioner for India and Indian High Commissioner for Pakistan; Enclosure: Note by Erskine Crum on discussion of Gurkha question between Mountbatten and Nehru
2 Resumption of articles in Afghan Press 488
on frontier problems
2 Has sent three telegrams on Service matters 489 suggesting in each case that liability should be accepted by H.M.G. without further attempt to negotiate with Patel who is ‘tired’ of discussions about protection of Services ; stresses that financial implications are nothing compared with importance of avoiding friction with Patel
2 Refers to No. 308; no question of 490
altering procedure concerning appointment of Governors; resolution has been framed so as to avoid embarrassment ; issue of announcement about Central Provinces and Berar should await clearance from Mountbatten ; significance of midnight on 14/15 August is that astrologers consider this is an auspicious time
2 In response to enquiries from Muslim 490
League, asks if Wylie would be prepared to consider accepting Governorship of E. Bengal
3 Jinnah has made first major blunder 492
by asking for Governor-Generalship ; feels that ‘powder magazine’ is among armed forces massed to keep peace on border; asserts that nothing will shake Indians from their ‘obstinate popular belief’ that Radcliffe will award as Mountbatten dictates
3 Reviews position in light of Khan Sahib’s 493 refusal to resign voluntarily and likelihood that League will make trouble if Ministry remains in office after 15 August; dismissal without dissolution would be unconstitutional and inexpedient;
CH. 2 PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION lxxix
Name and Number Date
August
327 (cent.)
328 Listowel to Mountbatten Tel. 10078
331 Nehru to Mountbatten Letter
332 Nehru to Mountbatten Letter
333 Anderson to Harris Minute
334 Govt of Australia to
Commonwealth Relations Office Tel. 211
336 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 3138-S
Main subject or subjects Page
advocates that retention of Ministry should be conditional upon their maintaining reasonable attitude towards Pakistan Dominion and new Governor- General ; says that choice between dismissal and/or dissolution should not be made and requests authority to put conditions to Khan Sahib
3 Pakistan membership of U.N.O.; 494
explains position as stated in No. 316 and suggests that Muslim leaders should be advised, if they wish to obtain early election, to put forward provisional application at once; recommends method of approach and points out that both India and Pakistan might have to apply for membership if Muslim theory of two co-equal States is pressed too far
4 Has been informed by members of 501
E. Punjab Ministry that situation in Lahore continues to be tense and that advent of 15 August is looked upon with apprehension; requests action to implement suggestion that military pickets be kept in Lahore
4 Submits names of colleagues in new 501
Cabinet; explains position regarding distribution and arrangement of portfolios
4 Submits note on what attitude of H.M.G. 502 should be to a proposition that, in view of balance of payments emergency, U.K. should now suspend or greatly reduce availability of sterling balances
4 Understands that H.M.G. intend to 504
negotiate with G.O.I. on establishment of bases on Andaman and Nicobar Islands; asks to be kept informed and trusts that full consideration will be given to ‘vital concern’ of Australia in Indian Ocean line of communications
4 Refers to No. 309; Jinnah has put out 509
statement assuring tribal areas that Pakistan Govt wishes to continue treaties after 15 August and seeks friendly relations with Afghan Govt ;
Jinnah and Nehru have agreed that Joint Defence Council should discuss Commonwealth defence problems, which will probably include N.W.F., with Chiefs of Staff
lxxx
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number Date
Main subject or subjects
Page
August
337 Jenkins to Mountbatten 4
Letter 699
338 Jenkins to Abell 4
Letter
339 Cabinet India and Burma 4
Committee I.B. (47) 44th Meeting Minutes 3 and 4
341 Jenkins to Mountbatten 4
Tel. 214-G
342 Mountbatten to Listowel 5
Tel. 3170-S
|
343 |
Viceroy’s Conference Paper |
5 |
|
V.C.P. 153 |
||
|
344 |
Partition Council Meeting |
5 |
|
Case No. P.C. 120/15/47 |
||
|
345 |
Record of Interview between |
5 |
Mountbatten, Jinnah, Liaquat, Patel and Savage
346 Abell to Jenkins 5
Letter 592/98
Submits memorandum on the main 510
criticisms against the Punjab Govt for its handling of the 1947 disturbances; leaves it to Mountbatten to decide whether there is any foundation for allegations of partiality made against him by Congress and League
Is sending Savage with papers which 527
Mountbatten should see or know of ; question of arresting principal character mentioned
(3) Role of British Troops in India; 528
(4) Messages for Indian Independence Day
Refers to No. 331, note 2 and outlines 531
strength of troops in Greater Lahore ; Commander of Boundary Force hopes to establish more platoon posts but emphasises that present arrangements are a great strain on men employed
Refers to No. 302, paras. 19-24; reports 532
advice of Pakistan Provisional Cabinet and attitude of Congress and League leaders ; indicates course he might best follow
Paper by Morris-Jones on ‘The Position 533
of India and Pakistan within the Commonwealth’
Indian Independence (Rights, Property and 536 Liabilities) Order
Savage reports that certain individuals 537
arrested by Punjab C.I.D. Control have implicated Tara Singh in terrorist activities including production of bombs, a Sikh plan to attack headworks and a plan to blow up the Pakistan Special ; after discussion Mountbatten decides to recommend to Jenkins that Tara Singh and other ringleaders should be arrested at about the time of the Boundary Commission’s award
Refers to No. 338 and conveys decision 539
reached in No. 345; Mountbatten is of opinion that Jenkins should discuss matter with Trivedi and Premiers of E. and W. Punjab; Jenkins might wish for more time to consider and possibly after his discussions to make other recommendations
CH. 2 PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION lxxxi
|
Name and Number |
Date |
|
|
August |
||
|
347 |
Cabinet Paper C.P. (47) 213 |
5 |
|
348 |
Bevin to Squire Despatch II |
5 |
|
349 |
G. of I., External Affairs and |
5 |
Commonwealth Relations Dept to H.M. Minister Kabul Tel. 183
350 G. of I., External Affairs and 5
Commonwealth Relations Dept to H.M. Minister Kabul Tel. 182
352 Provisional Joint Defence 6
Council Meeting
Case Nos. J.D.C. 44/7/47, 47/7/47
353 Partition Council Meeting 6
Case Nos. P.C. 142/16/47,
146/16/47
354 Patel to Mountbatten 6
Letter
355 Note by Cooke 6
Main subject or subjects Page
Memorandum by Dalton on ‘Indian 540
Sterling Balances’
Reports conversation with Afghan 541
Prime Minister on question of Afghanistan’s interest in N.W.F.P.
Transmits text ofjinnah’s press statement 542
(see No. 336) and requests that paras. 3 and 4 be referred to Afghan Govt
Refers to No. 349, note 1, explains 543
legal view of tribal agreements which may, subject to comments of H.M. G., be communicated informally to Afghans
(1) Terms of service for British officers 545
and men volunteering to stay on after the 15 th August 1947;
(2) Statement by the Chief of Staff to His Excellency the Viceroy; Ismay’s account of his meeting with Chiefs of Staff on subject of long-term defence arrangements
(1) The juridical position regarding 547
international personality and treaty obligations; (2) Titles
Refers to Partition Council Meeting 549
at No. 344, note 1 and says that it was not appreciated what consequences would be of failure to agree to issue the Properties, Rights and Liabilities Order; explains why, in regard to vesting of responsibility for Public Debt, consequences would be extremely grave and put in jeopardy peaceful implementation of partition; suggests that, until 15 August, it is Mountbatten’s responsibility to issue Order, irrespective of what parties concerned may think
The Indian Independence (Properties, 551
Rights and Liabilities) Order; refers to No. 344, note 1 and maintains that Mountbatten has three options: (1) to decide not to make an Order; (2) to make an Order in terms contended for by Indian Dominion in sense that material assets would be vested according to location and Indian Dominion would assume responsibility for whole of public debt; (3) to make an Order in terms contended for by Pakistan Dominion in sense that material assets
XXX!!
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number
355 (cant.)
] 57 Mountbatten to Bourne I el. 3197-S
3 5 8 Anderson to I lams Minute
359 Mountbatten to Jenkins Letter
361 Abell to Mountbatten Minute
36.1 Mountbatten to Listowel Tel. 3205-S
363 Mountbatten to Lockhart Pel. 3206-S
Date Main subject or subjects Page
August
would be vested jointly in two Dominions who would also assume joint responsibility for public debt; suggests that least unsatisfactory of three options is second and that should Mountbatten decide on this course he should first explain his decision to Jinnah and Patel
6 Jinnah has asked whether Bourne would 555 serve temporarily as Governor of E.
Bengal; Mountbatten hopes Bourne will agree
() Refers to No. 333; Sterling Balances; 556
says it is impossible to press Dalton to do more for India and expresses fear that Ministers may feel that Dalton has gone too far
6 Refers to No. 292; difficult task 557
confronting existing and successor govts in Punjab in maintaining security; meeting with Savage; suggestion that Spence should serve as Chairman of Partition Council after 15 August; regrets that partition work in Punjab is not going well; will try to secure advance warning about Boundary Commission’s award; assumes that Mamdot’s election as leader of League party for W. Punjab means that he will be premier 6 1 las spoken to Jinnah who is in favour of 559
arresting more extreme Sikhs at once;
Jinnah thinks that Patel would welcome trouble from Sikhs in Central Punjab and that he (Patel) only accepted arrangement agreed in No. 345 because he had no alternative; Abell thinks matter is important enough to get Jenkins down for discussion (> Refers to No. 328; Jinnah and Liaquat 559
have recognised necessity for Pakistan to apply for membership of U.N.O. and have asked that H.M.G. should put in application on their behalf 6 Refers to No. 327; N.W.F.P. Ministry; 560
conveys advice tendered by Pakistan Provisional Cabinet; has promised to accept advice provided he is satisfied he can do so constitutionally ; Congress maintain that either proposed course of action would be constitutionally improper; is consulting Listowel about constitutional position
CH. 2 PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSFER AND PARTITION lxxxiii
Name and Number Date
August
364 Burrows to Mountbatten 6
Tel. 235-C
365 Lockhart to Mountbatten 6
Tel. CA-162
367 Patiala to Mountbatten 7
Letter
368 Cabinet C.M. (47) 70th 7
Conclusions Minute 7
369 Minutes of Viceroy’s Sixty 7
Eighth Staff Meeting Items 1 and 4
370 Mountbatten to Listowel 7
Tel. 3237-S
371 Foreign Office to Permanent U.K. 7
Representative to U.N.O.
Tel. 2513
372 Political Agent Jaipur to 7
Secretary to Crown Representative Tel. 1133/2
373 Govt of Pakistan External 7
Affairs and Commonwealth Relations Dept to S. of S.
Tel. 6420
374 Mountbatten to Listowel 8
Tel. 3265-S
Main subject or subjects Page
Refers to discussion of internal security 561
in No. 287; Suhrawardy disputes having agreed to having no joint command organisation and, together with Nazimuddin, presses strongly for such an organisation to control troops in Calcutta area; Ghosh strongly disagrees; Burrows states that his views remain unchanged
Khan Sahib has learned that Ministry 561
might be dismissed before 15 August and so his party has decided to keep away from celebrations on that date ;
Khan Sahib reiterates that his party is prepared to accept Pakistan provided (1) N.W.F.P. is autonomous on all matters except External Affairs, Defence and Communications and (2) no prohibition is placed on party programmes
conducted in constitutional manner Explains his views on boundary line of 563
division in Punjab
Indian Sterling Balances 565
(1) Astrology; (4) The Indian 5 66
Independence (Properties, Rights and Liabilities) Order
Transmits text of communique outlining 569
agreement reached between Govts concerned about future of Gurkha units which form part of Indian Army
Explains that Muslim leaders have asked 570
that U.K. should submit immediate application on behalf of Pakistan; suggests method of approach and requests views on same
Reports on disturbances in Alwar 571
Govts of U.S.A., China, Iran, Afghanistan 572 and Egypt have been approached with proposal for exchange of Ambassadors with Pakistan; Australia and Canada have been approached for appointment of High Commissioners
Submits programme for Frontier Province 572 following talks with Jinnah and Liaquat;
Liaquat on Khan Sahib’s intentions
lxxxiv
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS
Name and Number Date
Main subject or subjects
Page
377 Abell to Abbott Letter
378 Notes by Abell and C. P. Scott
3 79 Mountbatten to Jenkins Tel. 3269-S
381 Lockhart to Mountbatten Tel. CA/166
3 82 Jenkins to Mountbatten Tel. 219-G
3 84 Mountbatten to Listowel Letter
385 Viceroy’s Personal Report No. 16
August
8 Refers to map showing roughly boundary 579 which Radcliffe proposes to demarcate and note by Beaumont describing it ; explains that there will not be great changes from this boundary and that award is expected within next 48 hours 8/1 1 Abell’s note refers to Patiala’s letter at 580
No. 367 and suggests that