845.01/243
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
The British Ambassador called to see me this morning at his request.
The Ambassador discussed the Indian situation with me at some length. He told me that he had urged upon his Government and upon the Viceroy by means of personal telegrams that every opportunity be taken by the British authorities publicly to make it clear that official promises for the ultimate independence of India after the war would be maintained and that while the Government of India found it necessary under present conditions to prevent disorder and interference with the war effort, the traditional policy of Great Britain was not one of repression of India and was not a policy of repression at this time. The Ambassador said that he had [Page 735] a very long telegram from Lord Linlithgow which he thought I would find of interest since it dealt with developments in India. He said he would send me a copy of this telegram.56
- Not printed.↩