Office of the Historian

845.00/1925: Telegram

Mr. William Phillips, Personal Representative of President Roosevelt in India, to the Secretary of State

New Delhi, April 19, 1943—noon.
[Received April 19—7:38 a.m.]

295. Upon invitation I attended a meeting of the committee of all India newspaper editors representing newspaper[s] in nearly every province.

The following points were strongly made:

(1)
The U. S. could and should make some move in interests of war to break present political deadlock. I explained our limitations.
(2)
Political parties are helpless to make any move toward a settlement since all access to Gandhi is denied and Gandhi’s participation is essential for any settlement.
(3)
While Indians are sympathetic to professed aims of United Nations, political parties are not willing to lend any assistance toward effort since they are now convinced that India is to be excluded from benefits of such aims. India is therefore not in war except for her mercenaries.
(4)
If Viceroy will not allow representative of President to see Gandhi then Indians will lose faith in ability of U. S. to be of any assistance. Likewise they will lose confidence in my capacity to accomplish anything.

Again I endeavored to explain our limitations. But it was clear from attitude of those present that issue of seeing Gandhi and Nehru has become in Indian mind test of success or failure of my mission. I shall see Viceroy at end of this week and will make my request.

Phillips