9
CLARIFICATION BY LORD PETHICK - LAWRENCE TO DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR
“28th May 1946
Thank you for your letter of the 22nd May in which you ask for elucidation of certain points in the recent Statement.
You will appreciate that the object of the Delegation is to set up machinery whereby Indians can frame their own Constitution for an independent India. The object of our Statement is to provide a basis on which the parties can come together for that purpose and we hope that it will be accepted and worked by all concerned. We have limited our Statement to the minimum which seemed to us necessary for that purpose. Other matters which arise will fall to be decided by the Constituent Assembly.
It is certainly our intention that the term “minorities” in paragraph 20 of the Statement includes the Scheduled Castes. On the other hand, it will be for the Constituent Assembly itself to set up the Advisory Committee and we assume that it will desire that it should be fully representative.
It is not our intention to interfere with the Constituent Assembly. The personnel of the Advisory Committee is not however limited by our Statement to persons who are members of the Constituent Assembly.
I think your other questions are largely covered by the further Statement which was issued by the delegation on Saturday evening and of which I enclose a copy.
Mr. Alexander has asked me to acknowledge and thank you for your letter which you sent him recently. He is away from Delhi for a few days on a visit to Ceylon and will reply to you on his return.” [1]
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1 : The Transfer of Power, Vol. VII No. 399, p. 723.