344 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Dr. Ambedkar: No, I do not think so. You will presently see that we have no such confusion. At any rate my mind is very clear about it.
Shri Kamath: Government as a whole, not you.
Dr. Ambedkar: What does maintenance of friendly relations imply ? Most Members are under the impression that if this category was added they would not be in a position to criticise the foreign policy of the Government. I like to say that that is a complete misunderstanding and a misconception.
Shri Kamath: That is your opinion.
Dr. Ambedkar: The underlying principle of this category, namely maintenance of friendly relations with a State, is nothing more than an extension of the principle of libel and defamation, that you shall do nothing, you shall say nothing, you shall circulate no rumour which will involve a foreign State in any kind of ignominy. Beyond that there is nothing in this category. Even the English Common Law is based upon this, namely that it is a part of the law of defamation—that you shall not defame a foreign State which has a friendly relation with this country. Now, I want to know from Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee whether he thinks that even asking him or others that they shall not defame a friendly nation is such a serious inroad upon the liberty of speech that it should be condemned.
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee: Why not specify it ?
Dr. Ambedkar: It is understood that this is so. I know my friend is a great reader, but if he were to read the debates that took place in this Assembly in 1932 when this law was enacted, if he will read the Statement of Objects and Reasons—which I have read—and also the Report of the Select Committee on that Bill he will find that in this particular law there is nothing more than what I have stated.
Shri Kamath: Is not the expression “running dog” used by the Peking Government libellous or slanderous ?
Dr. Ambedkar: There the Peking Government ought to make a law.