HC Deb 08 February 1932 vol 261 cc470-1
41. Mr. HICKS

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will publish the exact terms of Mr. Gandhi's request to the Viceroy?

Sir S. HOARE

Yes, Sir. The correspondence between the Viceroy and Mr. Gandhi will be included in the White Paper.

56. Mr. MORGAN JONES

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will make a statement as to the arrangements made with Mr. Gandhi, or the request made by him, that the gist of the conversations between himself and the right hon. gentleman should be sent to India so as to reach Mr. Gandhi on his arrival there; whether such a letter was sent and, if so, when; and what was the nature of its contents?

Sir S. HOARE

Mr. Gandhi wrote to me from Switzerland recording his impression of our conversation as to the scope of future constitutional discussions following upon the Round Table Conference. He asked for a reply by air mail to be addressed to Ahmedabad. I complied with his request and have received from him a letter of acknowledgment and thanks. The contents of the correspondence have been published.

Mr. JONES

Is it a fact that the communication which went by air mail did not arrive in India until at least a fortnight after Mr. Gandhi's arrival; and, if that is the case, can the right hon. Gentleman explain the reason of the delay?

Sir S. HOARE

I should not have thought that it was the case. As far as I know, the letter went in the ordinary course and was delivered in the ordinary course. The letter should have been in India about the time that Mr. Gandhi returned there. For my part, there was no unnecessary delay.

34. Mr. T. WILLIAMS (for Dr. WILLIAMS)

asked the Secretary of State for India what overt act or acts on the part of Mr. Gandhi caused the Government of India to order his arrest and detention?

Sir S. HOARE

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement issued by the Government of India. on the 4th January, which has appeared in the Press, and will be included in the White Paper.