§ 22. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India will now be prepared to release Mr. Gandhi and other prominent members of the Congress party in order that they may get together and decide the best means by which Congress can co-operate in the new constitution?
§ Sir S. HOAREThere can be no question of Mr. Gandhi and other prominent civil disobedience prisoners being released until the Government have convincing 612 reason to believe that their release would not be followed by a revival of civil disobedience.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman anticipate that he will get the maximum results from all the efforts that are being made at the Round Table Conference and elsewhere, unless the official representatives of Indian thought are there to express their opinions?
§ Sir S. HOAREA great many representatives of Indian thought are cooperating and will in the future be co-operating. I am afraid I cannot add anything to the answer which I have just given.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs there not a likelihood that the Indian people would be much more ready to receive and welcome any progress made, if their recognised official leaders were parties to the Conference?
§ Sir S. HOAREThis is a very complicated question, and I am afraid that a simple answer "Yes" or "No" to the hon. Gentleman would not carry us any further.