§ 37. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for India why the letter sent by Mr. Gandhi to the Viceroy on 23rd September, 1942, in which he condemned acts of violence was omitted from the published correspondence; and why no statement respecting the existence of this letter was made by the Viceroy or the right hon. Gentleman himself?
§ Mr. AmeryThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The only letter received from Mr. Gandhi during September was addressed, not to the Viceroy, but to the Secretary of the Home Department of the Government of India. This letter was dated 23rd September, and was so described in the material given to the Press in India. It was referred to in Mr. Gandhi's letter of 19th January—though incorrectly—as a letter of 21st September, and was consequently so described in the correspondence given to the Press in London. I am sending a copy of the letter to the hon. Member, from which he will see that, while referring to the "reported deplorable destruction" that had taken 1301 place, Mr. Gandhi claimed that the responsibility for it rested with the Government and not with the Congress Party and did not categorically condemn acts of violence.
§ Mr. SorensenIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that Mr. Rajagopalachari specifically states that a letter was sent by Mr. Gandhi condemning these acts of violence? Was not this known to the Viceroy and nothing was said about it at a time when Mr. Gandhi was being criticised for not expressing any opinion upon these acts of violence?
§ Mr. AmeryEither the hon. Member or Mr. Rajagopalachari has been misled, however unwittingly, by a slip of Mr. Gandhi's pen.