z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-10.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 758
758 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
to say the plan you prefer of three plans), was to add to the representation of the Princes already in the Assembly a proportion of the other Princes’ representation on the same proportion as those already admitted. Is that so?
Sir Samuel Hoare: I do not know what Lord Salisbury means by saying “upon the same proportion as those already admitted.”
- Marquess of Salisbury : I understand one of the States which came in would have say, 10 seats ?
Sir Samuel Hoare: I see what Lord Salisbury means. I think very likely it would work out on those lines.
- Marquess of Salisbury: There is only one other question I want to put as regards the Provincial distribution, that is to say, the distribution of seats in the Provinces. He is aware, of course, that there is a great deal of difference of opinion on that. I am not going into the difference of opinion, as to whether the communities are properly represented in Bengal under the Poona Pact. I am not going into it; but I am going to put this question to the Secretary of State : Whether he has any statement at all to make upon that subject ?
Sir Samuel Hoare: Upon the Communal decision of the Government ?
- Marquess of Salisbury: In the case of Bengal, I am speaking especially ?
Sir Samuel Hoare: No, I have nothing to add to the Memorandum that I circulated to the Committee and Delegates on the 26th May. upon the Government’s Communal decision. The Government made it quite clear that they regarded their decision as final and they were only prepared to accept a variation if it was clear to them that the variation had been agreed by the accredited leaders of the various communities ; and, as a Member of the Government, I am not prepared to add anything further to that statement of Government policy.
Chairman: Secretary of State, do you desire to hand in the Memorandum to which you have just referred ?
Sir Samuel Hoare: Yes, the Memorandum is as follows : —
MEMORANDUM—COMMUNAL AWARD
I think it may be useful to my colleagues on the Joint Select Committee who have not been familiar with the developments leading up to the White Paper, if I give for their information a very brief account explaining the scope of what is known as the “Communal Award”, the history of its origin, and why it stands, so far as the Government is concerned, on a different footing from the other proposals in the White Paper.
- Both the first and second sessions of the Round Table Conference found progress much impeded through the failure among the Indian, delegates to reach mutual agreement both on the number of seats which the various great communities in India were to secure in the Legislature and on the method of election to those seats. The main issue as regards election