z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-10.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 745
EVIDENCE : RIGHT HON. SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL 745
meral Parliament and that the debates in the House of Lords must be read in conjunction with those in the House of Commons.
14,690. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: If I may say so respectfully, I wish to understand your position alone, irrespective of the position of the House of Lords or other members of the Party. You stated definitely that you would vote with the Government, provided the Prime Minister’s statement was issued in conjunction with the speech made by the Secretary of State. The point which I wish to submit to you respectfully is this : Do you see any difference in the White Paper as presented to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, and the statement by the Prime Minister as interpreted that day by. the Secretary of State in the House of Commons ? If there is, of course, you have every ground to differ ?
Sir Winston Churchill: I can assure Dr. Ambedkar that I have never been in favour of a federal system being erected at this time at the Centre of India nor of transferring law and order in the Provinces, and nothing that I have ever said in this controversy is in conflict with that. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I have no more questions to ask.
†14,945. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: My Lord Chairman, may I ask a question with your permission ?
Chairman: If you please.
14,946. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I just want to ask you one question, Mr. Churchill. Do you make any distinction between responsible government and Dominion Status ?
Sir Winston Churchill: Oh, yes. Responsible government has many interpretations, many that we know in practice and we have seen. Responsible government may mean serious, real, important functions transferred to the discretion of a Provincial, or local body, or it may mean the various degrees of responsible government which have a technical understanding in the language of the Dominions and Colonial Offices, namely, Ministers responsible to the Assembly and so forth, but there are very considerable gradations in the history of our outlying Dominions and Empire in the exact form of institutions, which would be covered by the term “responsible government”.
‡15,147. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Would you agree that the masses should be given adult suffrage ?
Sir Winston Churchill: No.
15,148. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Why not ?
Sir Winston Churchill: Because I think it quite impracticable.
†Minutes of Evidence, Vol. II-C, 25th October 1933, p. 1833.
‡ Ibid., p. 1849.