JAWAHARLAL NEHRU‘S NOTE ON PROVISIONAL SETTLEMENT

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09415777229, 094055338

E-mail- [e-mail];[e-mail]

 

 

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU‘S NOTE ON PROVISIONAL SETTLEMENT

 

 

In consequence of the provisional settlement between the Working Committee and the Government of India a period of truce has been proclaimed. It is with regret that, on the morrow of this agreement, I have to strike a note of discord. I recognize that, in many respects, the terms of settlement are honourable and give evidence of the strength that the nation has gained by the sacrifice and suffering of the past year. I recognize also that the settlement is provisional, leaving all the vital questions open, and the final settlement is yet to come. But I feel that there is a certain commitment in it regarding the scope of discussions and a certain limitation of our ideal as laid down at Lahore. Safeguards and reservations are referred to and, although these are said to be in the interests of India, they may be, and I fear will be, interpreted to mean a limitation of our freedom in regard to defence, external affairs, finances and the public debt. The Congress and the Working Committee are pledged to the full control by the people of India of the defence services, the financial and economic policy, and the many of my colleagues of the W.C. are of opinion that the reference to safeguards and reservation does not limit their freedom in any way to work for the independence of India. I hope they are right and will prove their contention by their achievements in the coming Conference. But, as I cannot get over my doubts in regard to this phraseology, I am unable to accept or reconcile myself to any reference to safeguards and reservations. I do not desire however that any impediment should be placed in the way of those who interpret the words differently from me and who propose to extract independence out of them. Truce having been proclaimed by the Working Committee, I trust all of us will honour it and carry out the directions of the W.C. in regard to it.