THE INDIAN

ANNUAL. . REGISTER.

July-· Dec. ·1946 ..

VOL. ·11 Printed by D. N. Singha at the Siogha Printing Works 30, Badur Bagan Street ·and pulllished by N. N. Mitra 16/I, KOinedan Bagan Lane, Calcutta. () Issued · ] 29th. Year from J919 THE IN DiAN [ of Issue

ANNUAL. . REGISTER. . ·. . An ·An~ual Oigest of Public Affairs .of India Recqrding the Nation's Activities each year in matters Political, ~ -· -- . . . Ecqnomic, Industrial,· Educational, Social Etc. . . ' . ' - BEING ISSUED IN 2 SIX-MONTHLY VOLUMES

j

. Volu~~ II .]. . july-Dec. 1946 [Volume II

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~itor :-Nripendra Nath Mitra

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THE ANNUAL REGISTER OFFICE 18-1, KOMEDAN BAGAN LANE, P. O. PARK ST. CALCUTTA. ONDIA) The Indian Annual Register 16/1., Komedan Bagan Lane,- Calcutta (India). · .

'CALENDAR FOR :1946

JANUARY MAY SEPTEMBER 613 20 27 s. ... 26 ... s. I 8 1512229 ... s. I··· ... 5j12fl9 1 1 M. ,.. ; 7,14 21 28 M. ... 613120 27 ... M. 2 9116(330 ... T. I... I 815 22 29 T. ... 71421 28 ... T. 31017 24' ... 1... w.\ ... 2 916 23 30 w. I 81522 29 ... w. 4"'Y5 Th.... 3 24 31 Th. 2 91623 30 ... Th. 5 12il9 26 1...... + .. 4 1118't7 25 F. 3 10 1724 31 ... F. - 613;20127' I...... I F.s. I'"... 5 1219 26 s. 4 II 1825 S. 7142128 . ..1 ... FEBRUARY JUNE OCTOBER

1 s. ... 3i'T7 24 ... s. -... , 2 916 23130 s. ... 6 1320 27 ... M. .•. 4 tl 18 25 ... M. ... 1 3 1017 24 ... M. ... 714 21 28 ... T. ... 5[12119 26 T. ... 4 lli18 25 ... T. I 815 22 29 •!!• w. ... 611320 27 ... w. ... 5 12j19 26 ... w. 2 9 16 23 30 ... Th. ... 7jl4\21 28 Th ... 6 13,20 27 ... Th 310 17 24 31 ... F. I 81522 ...... F. .•• 7 28 ... F. 411 18 25 ...... s. 2 9lt6l23 ...... s. I 8 1522'it~' 29 ... s. 512 19 26 ...... MARCH JULY -NOVEMBER s. ... 3 10172431 s. ... 7 14 21128 .•. s. ... 311017 24 ... M. ... 4 1111825... M. I 8 15 2229 ... M. ... 4 )118 25 ... T. .... 5 12,1926 ... T. 2 9 16 23130 ... T. ... 511219 26 w. .•. 6 13;2027... w. 310 17 24131 ... ·w. ... 61320 27 ... Th ••. 7 1421 28.~. Th 411 18 25 ...... 'Th. 7114/21 28 F. I 8 15\22l9 ... F. 512 19 261 ...... :F. I 81522 29 ... s. 21 9 162330 ... s. 6,13 20 27, ...... ~s .. 2 9,16'23 30 ... APRIL AUGUST DECEMBER s. ... 17'14 21 28 ... , s. .. .. 4111 i18 25 ... s. '1815 22 29 ... M. I 815 22 29 ... M. •.. 5112;19 26 ... M. 2 9'16 23 30 .... T. 21 91623 30 ... T. ... 6113,20 27 ... T. 3,10 17 24 31 ... w. 3,101724 ... w. ... 7 14·21 28 ... w. 4'11 18·,25 ...... Th. 4i 111825 ... Th I 8115\22 29 ... ' Th 5l12 19261' .. ... F. 5 121926 ... F. 2 91623 30 .. : F. 613 2027 ...... s. 6113,2027 ... s. 310~17124. 31 .. .. s. 714 21 28, ... -- - THE INDIAN A'NNUAL REGISTER JULY-DECEMBER1946 - TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHRONICLE OF EVENTS ...... 2 ... 2 ...... 10 ... !01!1 ...... 81 ... 41 ... 110 INDIA IN HOME POLITY ... 61 The two world wars-a struggle against Britain's monopoly 61 India's re-action to Britain's new role ...... 61 Cripps report on Congress Standpoint ...... 611 Muslim League's "Direct Action" resolution ' ... 66 · "Direct Action'' in Action ·has not stopped "bloodshed and Civil war" ...... 67 The horror of , 17, & 18, 1946 ... 68 "Disgrace Abounding" · 69 Direct Action directed not against British authority 69 Story of Muslim grievances-false & exaggerated 70 Anglo-Muslim co-operation during this period ( 1946) 71 Muslim League technique of their fight ...... 73 Plea of "Provincial Autonomy'' & Calcutta Tragedy ... 74 . Failure of Congress members in the Interim Government ... 76 Spread of the religious persecution in she villages 76 Contrast between Central Government behaviour towards Bengal and Bihar ...... 77 Competition in mmder and bestiality on the increase ••• 78 Going into the Interim Government with 11 view "to get a foot hold'' for Pakistan ••• · ••• 79 Joint responsibility repudiated by Muslim League nominees ... 80 The Wavell technique of sabotage of united action in India ... 80 Mutuality of suspicion-Congress League & British · ••• 8!1 Reference to "Variation or addition''-twloe repeated by Nehru 8!1 Use of words Cabinet or "Coalition Government" in a oeremo· nial sense · ..• ••• 88 Jinnah's intention "of co-operating" with Central Govern- ment and Constituent Assembly ...... 84 Mualim League betrayal and British Government's las• minute attempt to salvage Cabinet Delegation Plan 81i . Suooe11ion Government or Governments of Britith llldia· ... 811 ( vi Congress had not accepted the Ma.y 16 Plan from the beginning­ the League did not on July 29 8'1' U. S. Government's intere•t in this Conference . 88 Pundit Nehru conveys to British Government <:)ongress re~o-. lution to Conference proposa.l 89 Trying to re-open· all the constitutional issues decided since May, 1946 ..• ... 90 British Government's endorsement of Muslim League dupliciLy entering the Interim Govarnment 90 Lord Wavell's false aasura'c!Cfl of ,Jun!l ~!146 , .. 91 Mr. Churchill's dark a.nd broad hints of bloodshed 9S Many members challenged Mr. Churchill and his sentiments ... 9S The Constituent Assembly-the dignity of the occasion.and its responsibility .. . 94 The Constituent Assembly at work .... • .. 95 The ''Objectives" Resolution-India.'s hopes and aspirations ... 96 THE 98 PEOOEEDINGS OF ~HE WORKING COMMI~~EE 98 Delbi-Aprill2-18, April25-SO, MaY 17-24 and June 9·26, 1946 . 98 Condolence : Shd Bbulabhai Desai ... 98 Ministers and Congress Executives · ... 98 Publio Funds 98 's Offer of Rice to India...... 98 South Africa. · ...... 98 PROCEEDINGS OF 'rHE WORKING CoMMI~'rEE '" ... 99 Bombay-July 5 to 8, 1946 ... 99 South Africa 99 Ceylon • - 99 Expert Committee for Constituent Assembly ... 99 Kashmir 99 PROOEEDINGS OF 'rHE A~L INDio$. CONGRESS poMMI'r'rEE ... 100 Bombay....,.July 6 tci '1, 1946 .... 100 Condolence 100 South Africa ... 101 Non-official Resolution ... 102 Pre•idential Election 102 New Working Committee 102 Statements by the Congress President lOS Postal Stika lOS Goa. ... lOS PBOOBEDINGS OF 'rHB WORKING COMMI'rTEE. ... 104 Wardha--13, 1946 ...... 104 Next Session of the Congress ...... 105 The Sikhs and the Constituent Assembly ••• 105 Parliamentary Sub-Committee ... 105 Goa 106 East Africa. ... 106 Jn,dia11 Labour ip ~"l!foy!ll ... ••• 107 Hydera.baa• ... 107 La.bour Policy ••• 107 Hind11stan Mazdoor Sevak Sangh ...... 108 Congress Committee and Praja Mandala in States 109 . PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKING COHMITTEE 109 Delhi-Aug, ll7-30, 1946 ...... 109 Minutes 109 Calcutta Tragedy ... 109 Annliilol Session ...... 110 . The A. I. C. C. Meeting .. -. 110 President's Correspondence with the Viceroy 110 Relations between Congress Ministers and P. C. Cs. 110 Volunteer Organisa.tion · ...... 111 Sind Election Dispute 111 Common Membership of Working Committee and· the· N a.tional Provincial Government 111 Sta.tement by Congress President ... 111 Shri J a.i Prakash a.s Congress President ... 111 The Calcutta. Tragedy . ... 112 Message to Congress Volunteers 113 PROCEEDINGS OF THE WoRKING COMMITTEE ... 114 Delhi-October 23-25, 1946 114 Minutes 114 East:· Bengal ... 115 Kashmir ... 115 Provincial Quotas ••• 116 Hindusta.ni Seva Da.i -· ... 116 PBOCEE))INGS OF THE WORKING COMMITTEE 116 From 19th to 20th November, 1946 at and on 2ht a.nd 22nd November, 1946 at Congress Nagar, Meerut ... 116 SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETINGS 116 Minutes 116. Constituent Assembly· 116 Pa.ndit Madanmoha.n Mala.viya -· 116 Bihar 116 Kashmir ... 117 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING HELD ON THE 22ND NOVEMBER, 1946 117 Labour Sub-Committee Report 117 Constitution Committee ...... 117 Congress Manifesto ...... 118 Non·officiall Resolutions ... 118 SUBJECTS 00MMITTBB MEETING 118 Meerut-21st a.nd 22nd. Novem"her, 1946 118 SUMMARY PROCEEDlNGS OF THE MEETING HELD ON ,1946 ... 118 Non-official Resolutions ... 119 THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS SESSION ... 120 Meerut-23rd a.nd 24th November, 1946 .•. ... 120 ( viii ) Rehrospect ... 120 Ratification 121 Conshituent Assembly 121 SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS ON THl~ 24TH NOVEMBER 1946 121 South Africa 121 East Africa 122 Greetings to Indonesia Republic 122 Indian Shatos 122 Congress Manifesto 123 Communal Strife 123 Revision of the Constitution 124 Acharya Kripala.ni's Speech 124 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ALL INDIA CoNGRESS COMMITTEE 126 Meerut-November 21st, 1946 126 Confirmation of Minutes 126 Meerut-25th November, 1946 126 The Constituhion Committee 126 Next Session of the Congress 126 PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKING COMMITTEE ... 127 Delhi-December 8th. to 22nd 1946 127 Minutes 127 Pa.rlia.menta.ry Sub·Committee 127 Sta.tement on Government Pronouncement of Dec. 6 127 The New Working Committee 129 CONGRESS ACCEPTANCE OF LONG TERM PLAN 130 DEBATE IN THE ALL INDIA CONGRESS COMMITTEE, BOMBAY -6·rH AND 7TH JULY 1946 130 Ma.ula.na. Aza.d 's Speech 130 Pa.ndit Nehru's Speech 131 Aza.d explains proposa.ls 133 Sa.rda.r Patel's Speech 134 Amendments Ruled Out 135 SBOOND DAY BOMBAY-7TH JULY 1946 137 Ma.ha.tma. Gandhi's Speech 137 Ma.ula.na. Aza.d Replies 140 Resolution on South Africa. 141 Non-Offioia.l:Resolutions 142 LEAGUE DECISION ON INDIAN PLAN 144 CoNGRESS AND THE CABINET PLAN 145 Pt. Nehru Explains Issues 145 CABINET MISSION'S WORK REVIEWED HOUSE OF LORDS-LONDON-18TH JULY 1946 147 Lord Pethick-La.wrence's Statement 147 HousE oF CoMMONS-LONDON-18TH. JULY 1946 152 Sir Stafford Cripps' Sta.temenh . -· 152 Mr. Churchill's Speech 161 Sir Stanley Reed differs from Mr. Churchill 164 Mr. W. G. Cove's support for Plan ... 164 Mr· A. V. Alexander's Reply to Debate ... 165 ( Is ) MUSLIM LEAGUE REJECTS CABINET PLAN Council Meetiug-Bomba.y-27th July to 29th July, 1946 167 Mr. Jinba.h Reviews Developments ••• 167 Night Session 171 Alterna.tives Before Lea.gue ...... 172 D_ema.nd for withdra.wing Lea.gue Support 173 Second da.y- Bomba.y-28th.· July 1946 173 Third Da.y-Bomba.y-29th. July 1946 174 League Rejects Ca.binet Pla.n 174 "Direct Action Da.y" 180 MR. JINNAH•EXPLAINS LEAGUE DECISION New Charges against Congress 180 LEAGUE DIRECTIVE ON MDIRECT ACTION"· THE GREAT CALCUTTA KILLING Firt Day-Friday-16th August 1946 ••• ... 182 Second Day-Saturday-17th August 1946 ••• 183 Third Day-Sunday-18th. August 1946 ••• ... 186 · Fourth'Da.y-Monda.y-19th August 1946 ••• 186 Fifth Day-Tuesday-20th August 1946 186 BENGAL ASSEMBLY DEBATE ON "CALCUTTA KILLING" No Confidence Motion on the Council of Ministers 187 Calcutta-19th and 20th September 1946 •.• ... Charge Sheet Against Premier .•• ... 188 . Second Day...::..Caloutt.-20th September 1946 ... 189 THE RAPE OF NOAKHALI AND TIPPERAH 10 to 15 October 1946 ... 194 16th October 1946 195 18th October 1946 196 19th October 1946 196 21st October 1946 ...... 197 THE BIHAR RIOT Origin of the Trouble 200 Nehru's :Visit to Affected Area.s 201 Official Review of the Situation 202 Ma.hatma Gandhi to Fast unto Dei.th 202 Gandhiji's Call to Bihar .... 203 Pt. Nehru's Spirited Appea.l 203 Nehru's Call to Students · 206 Pa.udit Nehru's Impressions 207 Minister's Review .. 208 Mr. Jinnah on Bihar killing ... 209 Statement by the Bengal League Secretary 210 League Leaders• Estimate of Casualties 210 Pandit Nehru on the Riots 212 THE GARMUKTESAR RIOT ... 214 U. 1'. fMinister's Appeal 216 fORMATION OF INTERIM GOVERNMENT ...... 216 Sardar :Patel replies to Mr. Jinnab ,., ... 216 jb) (s)

Mr. Jinnah's reply 'to Patel's Suggestion ... - 217 Congress Working Committee Resolution .... 219 Mr. Jionah on Congress Resolution 220 Pt. Nehru Accepts Viceroy's Invitation ... 231 Nehru's Invitation to )innah ... 222 TEXT OF THE NEHRU·JINNAH CORRESPONDENCE ... 222 PANDI~' NEBRU'S L'ETTER TO JINNAll ON ...... 222 MR. JINNAB'S REPLY, DATED BOMBAY .... ~112 P.ANDIT NIIBRU'S ANSWER ••• 222 Nehru on Talks with Jinnah ... 223 Mr. Jinnah Attacks Congress ... 225 Nehru Answers )innah's Charges ... 227 ANNOUNCEMENT OF JNTEBIM GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL !128 Viceroy's Broadcast On the New Government ••• 228 MR; )INNAH ON VICEROY'S BROADCAST ••• 220 LORD WAVEL'B LETTER TO MR. JINNAH, DATED 92ND )1JLY •• ; 931 MB. JINNAB'S REPLY TO TBB.ABOVE DATED JULY 31 231 LETTI£B FBOM THE VICEROY DATED AUGUST 81 1946 !133 )INNAH'B REACTION TO WAVELL'S SPEECH ... 233 ESTABLISBII!ENT OF JNTI!BIM GoVERNMENT ... 234 Pandit Nehru's appeal for Co-operation 234 League Attitude to Interim Government 236 Pandit N ebru's Broadcast 238 . Mr. Jinoah Raises Civil W a.r. Bogey ...... 242 CONGRESS ENDORSES INTERIM GOVERNMENT 242 The Delhi All-India Congress Committee Meeting ••• 242 Maulana Azad's reply to Debate ..• 245 No Ban on Govarnment Members .,. .. . 246 Amendments ...... 246 Second Day-New Delhi-24th Se.ptember 1946 ... 248 Pandit Pant's Reply .. . '25 President's Remark .. . 25° Resolution on Baluchistan ... ••• 25~ PANDIT NEHRU OUTLINES FOREIGN 'POLIOY •.• 251 PANDIT NEHRU'S RELATIONS WITH ASIAN NATIONS 255 THE CONSERVATIVE CONFERENCE AT BLACKPOOL 958 Churchill Attacks Labour Government's Policy ... 260 Pt. Nehru's Reply to Tories 261 Mr. Frank Anthony's Accusation ... 262 SARDAR PATEL ON THE FREEDOM: OF PRESS •.•• 269 MUSLIM LEAGUE ENTERS INTERIM GOVT. 264 THE NEHRU·JINNAH CORRESPONDENCE 265 Jinnah's Terms for Settlement ... 265 Confidential letter from Pandit Nehru to' Mr.· Jinnah dated Octo her 6, 1946 ••• ••• 265 Letter from Pandit Nehru to Mr. Jinnah dated Oct. 8, 1946 ... 267 Letter from Mr. Jinnah to Pandit J awa.barlal dated October 13, 1946 ...... 269 ( l[l ) LEAGUE MEMBERS TAKE OFFICE 269 L:SAGUE TO FIGHT FOR PAKISTAN IN INTERIM GOVERNMENT Mr. Ghaznafar Ali Khan's Views ••• 270 :(:.IAQAT ALI EXFLAINS LEAGUE POLICY IN INTERIM GOV'r. 270 JINNAH-VICEROY CORRESPONDENCE 273 Mr. Jinnah's letter to Viceroy dated October 3 273 Viceroy'a letter to Mr. Jinnah dated October 4 ... 273 Mr. ]innah'e letter to Viceroy dated October 13, 1946 274 Viceroy's letter to Mr. Jinnah dated Oct. 13, 1946 ... 274 Mr. Jinnah's Letter to Viceroy dated October 14,1946 274 The Viceroy's letter to Mr. Jinnah dated October 25, 1946 276 Mr. Jinnah's letter to the Viceroy dated October 25 276 MR. JINNAH ON LEAGUE MEMBERS' RoLE IN INTERIM GoVT, ••• 275 MUSLIM LEAGUE BOYCOTT OF CoiqSTITUENT ASSEMBLY ••• 277 . Jinnah-Viceroy Cprrespotidence ' ••• '277 Letter from Viceroy to Mr. Jinnah dated 1946 ••• 277 Letter from Mr. Jinnah to the Viceroy, da.ted Nov. 17, 1946 .•. 277 JINNAH'S DIRECTIVE TO BOYCOTT CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY 279 NEHRU ON ALLIANCE BETWEEN LEAGUE & BR. OFFICIALS ... 279 · THE MUSLIM !.EAGUE AND THE INTER.M GoVERNMENT 280 Pandit Nehru Releases Correspondence 280 Extract from H. E. the Viceroy's letter to Mr. Jinnah dated October 4 . ... 280 Extract from Pandit Nehru's letter to H. E. Viceroy dated October 14 ...... 280 H. E. the Viceroy's letter to Nehru dated October 15 ••• 281 Extract from Nehru's letter to Viceroy dated October 23 ••• 281 Extract. from Viceroy's letter to Nehru dated Oct. 23 ••• 281 THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS ... 282 54TH 8ESSION-MEERUT-23RD & 241'H NOVEMBER 1946 ... 282 Welcome Address ••• 282 Acha.rya. Kripala.ni's Call to Nation ... 282 PROCEEDINGS AND RESOLUTIONS .. . 289 Pa.ndit Nehru Warns the Services .. . 289 Sa.rdar Patel on League's policy .. . 289 Mrs. Asaf Ali's Opposition 291' India's Future Constitution ...... 292 2ND DAY-MEERUT-24TH NOVEMBER 1946 ... 292 Indian States' Problem ... 292 Congress Manifesto ... 293 Rajen Babu 's Appeal to Congressmen ...... 294 Pundit Nehru on Bihar Incidents ...... 294 Criticism of League Policy ••• 295 MB. JINNAH's CURE FOR COMMUNAL TROUBLES ... 296 Attitude to Long-Term Plan ... 296 Executive Council not a. Cabinet ... 296 "League Nominees will not he subservient to Congress ... 297 BRITISH CABINEr'S INVITATION TO PARTY LEADERS 298 NBHRU·VICEROY·ATTLEE COI

Premi~r·s Appeal.to Nehru 299 ~ ehru s reply . 300 Attlee's "Assurance" to Jinnah · 300. BRITISH CABINET'S 6TH DECEMBER STATEMENT ON GROUPING 301 Statement in the House of Lords 302 Statement in the House of Commons 304 JINNAB ON THE INTERPRETATION OF GROUPING CLAUSE 815 THE INDIAN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY•.• 817 Members of Provinces · 817 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASSEMBLY 817. Opening Day-New Delhi-9th December 1946 825 Dr. Sinha's Speech ...... 326 Second Day-New Delhi-1mb December 1946 330 Resolution oil Rules· Committee ... 830 Mr. Kripalani's reply to Debate 832 Procedure for Election of Chairman SS2 Third Day-New Delhi-11th December 1946 . S3S Dr. Rajendra Prasad Elected President. ass Soverdgn Rights of Assembly SS4 Dr. R~jendru. Prasad's Reply ... 3S4 Fourth Day-.New Delhi-12th December 1946 .... 3S5 Filth Day-New Delhi-13th December 1946 · S35 Resolution on Declars.tion of Objeotives SS5 India's Ps.ssion for Freedom ~·· S36 Monarchy in Indian States 337 Muslim League Absence ... 3S8 . Tribute to Gandhiji SS9 Mr. Purushottam Tandon's Appeal 340 Dr. J s.yakar's Substitute Resolution S41 Communist Amendment S41 Sixth Day-New Delhi-16th December 1946 S42 Sir H. S. Gaur's Amendmenb 344 Bihar Premier's Support to Resolution 374 Seventh Day-New Delhi-17th December 1946 346 Dr. Mookerjee Opposes Amendment · S46 Dr. Ambedkar on Pakistan 848 Sikh Support to Nehru's Resolution ... 350 Eighth Day-New Delhi-18th Ilecember 1946 351 . Sir N. G. Iyengar opposes Postponement 855 Ninth Day-New Delhi-19th Deoemb&r 1946 355 Communist Member Interrupted S56 Bengal Scheduled Castes Oppose Grouping ... S56 Gurkhas stand for United India ... 356 Mr. Velayudam's Appeal to Dr. Ambedkar ... 357 Tenth Day-New Delhi-lUst December 1946 S58 Representation for States ... S58 Mr. Santhanam's Amendment 858 Procedure Committee's Report 359 The Steering Committee 360 Preliminary Meeting Adjourned-23rd Decelllbtlr ••• 360