262 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
- I still feel that we should not volunteer a pronouncement in response to Dr. Ambedkar’s request for a public declaration that the Scheduled Castes are a minority within the meaning of paragraph 20 of the Mission’s Statement of May 16th. To do so would almost certainly arouse a controversy with Gandhi which might result in Congress opposing their inclusion as a demonstration. Even if we did not say that the Scheduled Castes are a minority but only that they should be included on the Committee, our statement would arouse requests for a similar statement in favour of the Anglo-Indians and others, and would be interpreted as interference with the Constituent Assembly, which is what we are most anxious to avoid. There is no possibility that such a declaration would influence Congress to give the Scheduled Castes better treatment in the Advisory Committee than they would otherwise do, nor would it help Dr. Ambedkar, since it would refer simply to the Scheduled Castes, making no distinction between those who favour Congress and those who do not.*
PETHICK-LAWRENCE
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- Mr. Attlee noted on this Minute : ‘No further action.’ Attlee Papers, University College, Oxford.