HC Deb 07 June 1937 vol 324 cc1396-7
3. Mr. Pethick-Lawrence

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether attention has been given to the recent speech of Mr. Gandhi at Tithal, in Gujurat, in which he said that he was anxious that Congress should take office, and that all he was asking from the Government was a gesture within the Constitution; and whether, in response to this appeal, the Government are prepared to make a new approach to the solution of this problem?

Sir A. Lambert Ward

My Noble Friend has seen in one London paper a cabled account of a Press interview with Mr. Gandhi in which he is reported as having said that he was anxious that Congress should take office, but only if the Government showed a willingness to conciliate Congress by giving an undertaking that a provincial Governor, in the event of a serious disagreement with Congress Ministers, would either dismiss them or demand their resignation, Mr. Gandhi indicating that he personally would be satisfied with the latter formula. His Majesty's Government have explained the intentions of Parliament in regard to the relations between Governors and Ministers. While they welcome Mr. Gandhi's assertion that he is anxious that Congress should accept office, and are ready to examine any suggestion which might conduce to that result, they regret that no means of meeting the requirements of the Congress as hitherto formulated has yet been suggested which is consistent with the intentions of Parliament in regard to the relations between Governors and Ministers.

Mr. Pethick-Lawrence

Does not the Government recognise that this is not a matter in which they should wait for some solution to be put forward from the other side, but that they should themselves actively pursue efforts to find a solution from what is a most unfortunate position?

Sir A. Lambert Ward

I will communicate the right hon. Member's remarks to my Noble Friend.

Sir Nairne Stewart Sandeman

Does not the Act lay down the position? Why should we give away any more than we have already?

Mr. Wedgwood Benn

Is it not a fact that the situation is gradually drifting to a deadlock both as regards the Federation and the Provincial Assemblies?

Mr. Sorensen

Does the answer mean that whatever happens we do not intend to give complete freedom to India?

Sir A. Lambert Ward

No, Sir.