SELECTED WORKS OF JAWAHARLAL NEHRU. 5. Lord Mountbatten’s Record of Interview with Nehrut Nehru told me, for my private information, that he could not conceal his pleasure as well as his admiration at the Mahatma’s fast? for he said this was needed to bring our people to their senses. He thanked me for having spoken encouragingly to him about his fast the night before, and revealed to me that Mahatma Gandhi had not told him of his decision to fast even though he was with him for an hour before the prayer meeting, and just before the Mahatma came to see me, he said, “I have known him for 32 years and I still can never guarantee that I can fathom his mind.” 1, New Delhi, 13 January 1948. Lord Mountbatten Papers, Broadlands Archives Trust, Broadlands, Romsey, Hampshiro. 2. Mahatma Gandhi started fasting on 13 January 1948, for an indeterminate period, to bring about a reunion of the hearts of all communities, He was anxious that minori- ties should bo given protection.The fast was also a silent reproach to the Government of India for its decision not to implement the financial agreement with Pakistan. “There is, however, a fast which a votary of nonviolence sometimes feels impelled to undertake by way of protest against some wrong dono by the society... .” ‘ 6. The Question of Rs. 55 Crores The Prime Minister stated that both he and the Deputy Prime Minister had seen Mahatma Gandhi who had started his fast that day. The Govern- ment were anxious to do all in their power to improve the communal situa- tion and steps were being taken to that end. One particular matter was in Gandhiji’s mind and he had referred to it. This was the question of payment of Rs. 55 crores," in terms of the financial 1, Extracts from the minutes of a Cabinet meeting, 14 January 1948. J.N. Collection, 2. The cash balances of undivided India with the Reserve Bank of India on the date of partition were around Rs. 375 crores. In December 1947, the two Governments arrived at a financial agreement under which Pakistan's share was fixed at Rs. 75 crores. Of this, Pakistan had already been paid Rs. 20 crores on 14 August 1947, Fearing that the balance of Rs. 55 crores would bo used to sustain the fight in Kashmir, the Government of India decided to withhold payment pending a settlement on Kashmir. ‘However, on 15 January 1948, in deference to Mahatma Gandhi's wishes, the Indian Government decided to make immediate payment of Rs, 55 crores, after deducting Rs, 10 crores which was advanced to Pakistan under the “ways and means” head and making other necessary adjustments caused by the working of the joint accounts,THE COMMUNAL DANGER agreement, to Pakistan. He felt that it would have been better for us to pay this, although legally and on other grounds we might have been justified in refusing to implement the agreement till other settlements had been arrived at. He felt strongly on this question and suggested that even now we should pay this sum. This would remove one cause of ill-will and bitterness between the two states. 7. Cable to N, Gopalaswami Ayyangar’ As you know our Government have accepted financial settlement made with Pakistan, but have stated that actual implementation of it and more specially payment of cash balances depend on an overall settlement of other issues. There have been long statements on this issue on the part of our Government and Pakistan Government. We are convinced that both on legal and other grounds our position is very strong, 2. Meanwhile Reserve Bank had agreed to advance ways and means loans of ten crores to Pakistan without any objection being taken by us. This showed that we had no desire to embarrass Pakistan Government in their day-to-day working. 3, This issue of delay in implementing financial agrcement has given rise to a great deal of friction and ill-will, both sides adhering strongly to their position. In view of Gandhiji’s fast and his advice to us we have reconsidered the matter. On the merits we are unanimously of opinion that our previous decision was right, but having regard to all the circumstances and more specially Gandhiji’s advice at this crucial moment we have decided to make payment of fifty-five crores minus sums to be set off against it to Pakistan immediately. We have done this deliberately as a gesture of goodwill and in order to lessen tension. 4, The full text of the Government of India communique on this subject as well as press statement by me are being telegraphed separately to Indiadel. I would like to impress upon you that this does not mean any weakening on our part on the Kashmir issuc, Indeed we want it to have the reverse effect. We have gone to the utmost to show our bona fides and desire for peace. 1, New Delhi, 15 January 1948, J.N. Collection. Gopalaswami Ayyangar was at Lake Success attending the mecting of the Security Council to present India’s case on the Kashmir issue,SELECTED WORKS OF JAWAHARLAL NEHRU We have cleared other outstanding matters. But on the Kashmir issue we have adhered fully to the stand we have already indicated. 5. Press reports from Peshawar state that Liaquat Ali Khan has been told by tribal mullicks that they are determined to carry on their war against Sikhs and Hindus of Kashmir and India.* Further they threatened to carry the war to Delhi and objected to the reference to the United Nations. Some of them said that they would not accept a U.N.O. decision or any compromise or listen to any appeal from Pakistan. 2. A press roleaso dated 16 January from Poshawar stated that the tribesmen, while assuring Liaquat Ali Khan of Muslim solidarity and wholehoarted allegiance to Pakis- tan, expressed deop resentment and distress over the atrocities committed on their Muslim brethren in East Punjab and Kashmir. 8. Payment of Cash Balances to Pakistan’ The Government’s decision in regard to the payment of the cash balances to Pakistan has been taken after the most careful thought and after consul- tation with Gandhiji. I should like to make it clear that this does not mean any change in our unanimous view about the strength and validity of the Government's position as set out in various statements made by distinguis- hed colleagues of mine.* Nor do we accept the facts or arguments advanced in the latest statement of the Finance Minister of Pakistan.* ‘We have come to this decision in the hope that this generous gesture, in accord with India’s high ideals and Gandhiji's noble standards, will convince the world of our earnest desire for peace and goodwill. We earnestly 1, Statement to the press, New Delhi, 15 January 1948. The Hindustan Times, 16 January 1948. 2. Vallabhbhai Patel and Shanmukham Chetty had reiterated on 12 January 1948 that the Government of India were the only competent authority to operate the cash balances which stood in their name and that Pakistan had been repeatedly told that the financial question could not be settled in isolation from other outstanding problems like Kashmir, 3, Ata press conference in Karachi on 8 January 1948, Ghulam Mohammed claimed that the cash balances lying with the Reserve Bank “yest in His Majesty for the purpose of the two Dominions. Therefors onc Government or another country cannot direct the bank.”THE COMMUNAL DANGER trust also that this will go a long way towards producing a situation which will induce Gandhiji to break his fast. That fast, of course, had nothing to do with this particular matter, and we have thought of it because of our desire to help in every way in easing the present tension. Six months ago we witnessed a miracle in Calcutta, where ill-will changed overnight into goodwill through the alchemy of a similar fast. The alchemist who worked this change was described by our Governor-General as the one-man boundary force which succeeded when the boundary force of 50,000 men in West Punjab did not succeed in keeping the peace. This unarmed knight of nonviolence is functioning again. May the same alchemy work again in India and elsewhere ! We have sought to remove one major cause of dispute and argument between India and Pakistan and we hope that other problems will also be resolved. But let it be remembered that the people of Kashmir are suffering from a brutal and unprovoked invasion and we have pledged ourselves to help them to gain their freedom. To that pledge we shall hold and we shall do our utmost to redeem it. We seek their freedom not for any gain to us but to prevent the ravishing of a fair country and a peaceful people. 4, Lord Mountbatten wrote to Mahatma Gandhi on 26 August 1947 : “In the Punjab we have 55,000 soldiers and large-scale rioting on our hands. In Bengal our forces consist of one-man, and there is no rioting. As a serving officer, as well as an administrator, may I be allowed to pay my tribute to the One-Man Boundary Force?” 9. Cable to Vijayalakshmi Pandit" You are aware that a financial agreement was arrived at between India and Pakistan under which cash balance of fifty-five crores minus certain set- offs was to be paid to Pakistan, It was however stated clearly on behalf of Government of India that while we accepted the agreement we could not implement it till an overall settlement of all issues was made. This referred specially to Kashmir. There has been a great deal of controversy over this issue. Our Cabinet has been unanimously of opinion that both on legal and other grounds we. were justified in delaying implementation of agreement pending settlement of other issues. 1, New Delhi, 15 January 1948. J.N. Collection,SELECTED WORKS OF JAWAHARLAL NEHRU In view of Gandhiji’s fast, however, and our earnest desire to remove ill-will and tension and in accordance with his advice, we have decided to make a generous gesture to Pakistan and directed payment of this cash balance to Pakistan, This has been done as Government wanted to make a strong contribution to the cause of communal goodwill for which Gandhiji was fasting and in the hope that this may result in creating conditions which would lead him to end his fast. It should be clearly understood however that thisdoes not weaken in any way our stand regarding Kashmir. Indeed it is meant to strengthen our position there. We want to make it clear to India, Pakistan and the world that we are generous and earnestly desirous of peace but even so the brutal and unprovoked invasion of Kashmir has to be resisted and ended at all costs. Gandhiji somewhat weak but cheerful. Health generally good. 10. Do Not Copy Pakistan* Soon after taking office the Government of free India was confronted with gigantic problems which demanded immediate attention and energy of the people. The first major task which we had to undertake was the main- tenance of law and order and evacuation of our brethren from Pakistan. The next problem was their resettlement and rehabilitation. The first job had to be finished before the Government could take up the second. But this is not the case today. At times we felt that the first problem had been satis- factorily solved and that there was peace in the country but our hopes were proved to be false by periodic outbreaks of lawlessness. While the Government were still considering the different rehabilitation schemes, other urgent problems as that of Kashmir arose. The Indian Army is fighting in Kashmir. It has gone there because we felt it was our duty to defend the innocent people of Kashmir against the unprovoked aggression. We have a clear conscience over that issue, and the cause that we have taken up in Kashmir demands perfect harmony in our own ranks. If we do not have peace among us, our military operations are bound to suffer in Kashmir. 1, Speech at a public meeting in Delhi, 15 January 1948, From The Hindustan Times and ‘The Statesman, 16 January 1948. 10THE COMMUNAL DANGER While we were thus engaged in rehabilitating the people who had been evacuated from Pakistan and in defending Kashmir, fresh batches of refugees started coming from Karachi.? These series of human earthquakes were not of our making. We did not start them and the responsibility was not ours, but that of the people who had created Pakistan. They had fired the first shot. The people of both countries have lost their balance. The fact that sanity has not returned in Pakistan should not prevent us from retuining to normal life. We must set our own house in order. We will succeed in doing that only if the internal situation is peaceful. Western Punjab and parts of the Frontier Province are at present full of tribesmen, They were actually called there by the provincial governments, but are now not under their control. Lawlessness is prevailing there and in certain districts administration has collapsed completely. The tribesmen are harassing not only non-Muslims but the Muslims also. Recently they kidnapped a few Muslims and Pakistan officials succeeded in rescuing them only on the payment of ransom of about Rs. 100 per head. This must be a lesson for all. We cannot let such things happen in India. Lawlessness will spell the ruin of the country. The present atmosphere in the country is a cause of great worry to us. To Mahatma Gandhi it is even more painful. It hurts him to see bloodshed and rioting. We must realise that communal fighting, ifnot checked immediately, will bring about an end of our freedom. He feels what is in the minds of the people. He has gone on fast so that people may search their hearts and stop doing things which will lower their standards. Gandhiji knew the ‘way events were shaping themselves in Pakistan and India and was worried. He did not want to see India go the way Pakistan had gone. After having led India in her struggle for freedom, he was happy when India became free, though he did not like the shape it took. He still hopes that if we work hard it will be possible to build a strong and powerful nation. The news of Gandhiji’s fast came as a surprise to me and my colleagues. When I saw him on Monday at three o’clock in the afternoon, Gandhiji did not tell me anything. It was his day of silence and he was writing some- thing. Even Sardar Patel was not aware of the proposed fast. We knew Gandhiji was worried about conditions in the country and was thinking what he should do to improve them. It is not enough to consider the effect of the fast on Gandhiji’s health. We have to understand the issues involved. The country is faced with grave 2. On 6 January 1948, a party of 184 Sikhs, who were being evacuated from Upper ‘ind, were attacked by a Muslim mob while spending a night in a gurdwara in Karachi, Sixty-four of them were killed and the rest wounded. The mob then took to looting, particularly of non-Muslim shops in the city. iSELECTED WORKS OF JAWAHARLAL NEHRU dangers. There are external dangers. There may be dangets from Pakistan. We are not afraid of them. But if there are internal troubles we cannot face them effectively. We have also to provide food and shelter to thirty lakhs of people. Unfortunately, the two-nation theory and the hate propaganda carried on by the protagonists of Pakistan have affected some of us. But we in India should realise the dangers and not think in terms of religion. No nation in the world was founded on the basis of religion. After all, there are crores of Hindus in East Bengal and there are crores of Muslims in India. If they start moving from one country to another as destitutes it will be impossible to carry on the work of administration. It is wrong to think that all Muslims are traitors and all Hindus and Sikhs are patriots. The fact is that there are large numbers of Muslims who have been loyal to the country’s struggle for freedom. Many Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims opposed our struggle. It is wrong to think that one community is traitor as a whole. It is a question of individuals. Those who are traitors will be punished. Yn Delhi alone there are three or four lakhs of refugees from the Frontier Province, West Punjab, Baluchistan and Sind. Within a week all the refu- gees, who have no accommodation, will be provided with accommodation in barracks or elsewhere. A sufficiently large area near Delhi has been set apart for refugees who will be helped to build houses. The Government will provide them the necessary land and building material. They will also build roads and arrange for water supply. In Delhi, as in other parts of India, small townships will be built for the refugees. They will also be given good land. Middle-class refugees in Delhi will be helped to form corporations for building houses. All this however requires public cooperation and it cannot be done if there is rioting in Delhi. Out of three and a half Jakhs of Muslims, nearly two lakhs have left Delhi. Many of the mohallas have become empty and Hindus and Sikhs have occupied the houses vacated by Muslims. But it is the policy of the Government to give every facility to Muslims living in Delhi and who are wanting to stay on here. If we can create peaceful conditions here, we can change the atmosphere throughout the country. We should create conditions in which nobody should be obsessed by the fear of rioting or be afraid of moving about freely. May be no Hindu or Sikh can live in peace and honour in Lahore. But if we create similar conditions here, what is the difference between them and us? Should we become like them? Here in India we have comprehensive plans for the improvement of the people’s conditions. In Pakistan they have no plans except that for creating mutual hatred. They have unfortunately got us also entangled in their net, The only reply that we should give them is to create peaceful conditions in our country. I disapprove of all talk of war between India and Pakistan and there 12THE COMMUNAL DANGER is no immediate possibility of war.* The Government of India are, however, prepared for every eventuality. We have prepared ourselves militarily and there is no need for the kind of panic which made some people run away from Amritsar and Jullundur. I assure you that if there is a war not onc soldier of the enemy will be allowed to step into Indian territory. . In the recent attack in Gujrat on the train carrying Hindu sind Sikh refugees by tribesmen and Muslim refugees, sixty-one Indian soldiérsfoudl gallantly until they ran out of ammunition and a large number of Hindus“ and Sikhs were killed.* It was a ghastly tragedy and was bound to angér us, Measures will be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents. It does not, however, mean that we should retaliate. There are still a large number of Hindus and Sikhs in Bannu. I assure you that the Government are not less worried about the massacre in Karachi than you are. You should pledge to bring about complete peace in Delhi. There should be no boycott of Muslims and peaceful relations should be restored. Delhi is not merely the capital of India but a city with a great historical past. Conditions here have their effect on other parts of India. You have to make Delhi the bulwark of peace and harmony. Gandhiji has shown us a new way of life. He is the sentinel and hope of our freedom. He has taught us that we can rise not by adopting means that mere expediency demands but by following the right path. It is he who brought us freedom by making us follow the right path. His fast is a warning to us not to deviate from it, If we want to influence others, we have to teach ourselves to follow the right path. He is a mere bundle of bones, but he has made an empire shake beneath his feet through his spiritual power. Military power is liable to be shortlived and incapable of achieving great ends. Military might alone is not enough because a nation’s progress depends on its spiritual power. The Mahatma is the symbol of our spiritua’ strength and his loss will mean the loss of India’s soul. 3. On3 January 1948, Linquat Ali Khan accused India of having never accepted partition whole-heartedly and said that its leaders paid lip-scrvice to it merely to get British troops out of the country and charged that India was out to destroy Pakistan. 4 On 12 January 1948, a train carrying about 3,090 Hindu and Sikh refugees from Bannu in tho N.WW.F.P. was attacked by Pathans at the Gujrat railway station in West Punjab. Over 1,650 persons, it was estimated officially, had been killed. 13SELECTED WORKS OF JAWAHARLAL NEHRU 11. Mahatma Gandhi's Fast! Mahatma Gandhi has undertaken this fast to stop the people of India from treading the path of communalism and to make them alive to the grim dangers which are staring them in the face. He has gone on fast to draw our attention to our own faults, to rouse our conscience, and to make us realise that internal peace and communal harmony are essential if the country is to progress. Even from the point of view of self-interest, it is necessary that there should be peace in the country. Peace is essential if India is to become a strong country. The strength of a country is measured by its economic resources, The United States is the most powerful country in the world not because it has a big army but because it is economically strong. A poverty- stricken country cannot fight its enemies. The present atmosphere in India, with the constant threat of internal riots, makes it difficult for us to imple- ment plans of development and rehabilitation. It is our primary responsi- bility to help in the country’s progress. If free India lives, we live, but if our country becomes weak, we will fall with her. We have forgotten this funda- mental principle and are fighting among ourselves because anger has clouded our vision. The people might hold different opinions on political or economic questions. There might be different communal parties in a country. But there must be only one goal for which all must work, namely, to make India strong. They should not do anything which might weaken the country. Some communal organisations talk of riots and disturbances. This sort of talk is bad at all times, but it is dangerous at present. These organisations do not seem to realise that they are playing with the interests of India and will bring her utter ruin. Retaliation in India is no way to avenge the wrongs done to Hindus in Pakistan, It will be a vengeance against ourselves. If a few people forcibly occupy houses of Muslims, they are not solving the refugee problem. There are crores of Muslims in India and if we go on creating internal troubles, it will take decades before we can make any progress. Moreover, no civilised government can tolerate such actions. We have plenty of mincral and technical resources. One-third of our country is under-populated. We only need time to build up our country. Every action we take must advance her progress. We know Muslims are oppressing non-Muslims in Pakistan but should we lower ourselves to their standards? Such things cannot be permitted to happen in India simply because they go unchecked in Pakistan. We are not 1, Spooch at a public meeting in Delhi, 16 January 1948. From The Hindustan Times and The Statesman, 17 January 1948. 14THE COMMUNAL DANGER framing the destinies of India on the lines adopted by Pakistan. We have our own standards of judging what is right and wrong. We must not follow the example set by Pakistan. They are at present in a shaky position because their actions, right from the beginning, were improper. They created trouble in Kashmir and we are fighting, and shall fight them there with all our might. Their deeds are now recoiling on them. They sowed the wind in Kashmir and they are reaping the whirlwind in the form of lawlessness and anarchy in West Punjab. Though there is no near possibility of war with Pakistan, it does not mean that we should not strengthen our army, air force and navy. Only weak countries are attacked, and if our country becomes strong, we need not fear any invasion. The Government will leave nothing undone for the proper rehabilitation of the refugees from Pakistan. They are the wealth of the nation. They have every right to demand full attention from the Government, but they have no right to take the law into their hands. They will achieve nothing by breaking the peace as that will create more complications and delay their resettlement. 12. The Purpose of Mahatma Gandhi's Fast" For the last twenty years India has followed the advice and guidance of Mahatma Gandhi. He has impressed on us that we as a nation cannot pro- gress unless we build up our inner strength and that this can be done only by the nation adopting good means to achieve good ends, Good results can- not be achieved by adopting bad methods. No doubt we adhered to these principles, but of late these principles have not becn so prominent inside the Congress itself. There is a tendency to split. Sometimes during the last few months I have doubted whether the vision of a free India, based upon progress and good philo- sophy, so that she can takea prominent place in Asia and in the rest of the world, can be realised. Mahatma Gandhi's fast is intended to build up our inner strength so that we can tread along the right and proper path. 1, Spocch to a gathoring on tho lawas of Birla House, Now Delhi, 17 January 1948, The Hindustan Times, 18 January 1948, 15SELECTED WORKS OF JAWAHARLAL NEHRU Ever since I learnt of Mahatma Gandhi's decision to fast, I neither asked him not to resort to fast nor to give it up, because I knew what the Mahatma wanted. It is up to the people to do their duty correctly and follow the advice of Mahatma Gandhi. Only then can he be induced to break the fast. Gandhiji has taken the decision to fast not out of anger or petulance. He has gone on fast because he wants to save the country which he has served for so many years. He is one of the bravest men in the world. He has never countenanced any wrong action. For the past four days he is on fast. It is shameful that we should be cating thrice a day and that he should bear the burden of our sins all alone. But you should return to sanity and end communalism for your own sake and not merely for saving the life of Mahatma Gandhi. You should act in sucha way that I may be able to go to Gandhiji and tell him that the great purpose for which he raised his silent voice has been realised. 2. Nehna also did not take any food during the period of Mahatma Gandhi's fast. See Appendix, one. 13. Pledge to Restore Harmony" For the past few days the eyes of the whole world were focused on Delhi. The people of Delhi were on trial. I am glad that your solemn pledge® has made it possible for Gandhiji to break his fast. There is some relief over Gandhiji's ending his fast, and there is no danger to his life now. Another grave responsibility has, however, been placed on our shoulders. We have given a pledge that there will be peace not merely in Delhi but in the whole of India. It is our duty to implement that pledge. There is only one frail old man in our country who has all along stuck to the right path. We had all, some time or other, strayed away from his 1. Speech at a public meeting, Delhi, 18 January 1948. From The Hindustan Times, 19 January 1948, 2. A peace committee of 130 members, representing Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and other communities and organisations, set up on 18 January, with Rajendra Prasad as conve- nor, gave a pledge promising Mahatma Gandhi to end discrimination against Muslims, including economic boycott, ensure conditions for the return to them of 17 mosques in Delhi and provide facilities for them to travel freely and hold their annual fair. As a result of this Mahatma Gandhi ended his fast the same day. 16THE COMMUNAL DANGER, path. In order to make us realise our mistakes, he undertook this great ordeal. During these five days I have pondered a great deal over the problems facing us. The question of increasing our production, providing food, shelter and clothing to the large number of refugees, the problem of rehabilitation and the like demand our immediate attention, but no government can tackle them if there is no peace in the country. If there are disturbances in the country, it cannot defend itself against external dangers, The country itself will suffer greatly the consequences of such disturbances. Unfortunately, our country is on the wrong path. It is possible that by following that path some people have benefited but the majority of people have suffered. Gandhiji has all along been warning us that we have strayed away, but we did not listen to him. Then he raised his silent yet powerful voice. Your complaints of hardships faced by refugees are true. We have failed to tackle this problem so far but not because of our reluctance or due to lack of a realisation of our responsibilities. You must understand that provision of shelter, food and occupation to 50 or 60 lakhs of displaced persons is no small problem. Nevertheless, I assure you that we will soon tackle it in all its aspects. Gold and silver do not constitute a nation’s riches. Its riches are her people. Those who have come from the Punjab have added to our wealth. I know there are many refugees willing to work but cannot, because we have -not been able to give them any work. I reiterate the assurance that I gave on Friday last that all the refugees in Delhi will be given shelter within a week's time. But that assurance does not mean that each refugee will have separate accommodation. Such a thing is impossible. What I mean is, after a week, no refugee will be found on the road without proper shelter. Purana Qila, a few palaces in New Delhi, the military barracks and similar housing accommodation will be made available to the refugees. All arrangements in regard to their housing will be made without any more delay. We have before us a number of development projects such as irrigation works, new factories and mills, hydro-electric projects and reclamation of wastelands, which will increase our production. So far we have not been able to coordinate these projects with our rehabilitation plans. Efforts will now be made in this direction. Our country has been partitioned. Some parts have gone to Pakistan and some to the Indian Union. I have all along felt that this was a wrong step, and, God willing, the two parts will be united again. The oft-repeated charge of Muslim League spokesmen is that the Indian leaders are out to destroy Pakistan and want to reunite Pakistan and India. Let me tell them 17SELECTED WORKS OF JAWAHARLAL NEHRU plainly now that we have no desire to reunite Pakistan with India for the present. We want to build our nation as we desire, If you want your country to progress, there is no way out but to frater- nise with each and every community. I have every hope that the people of Delhi will abide by the solemn pledge they made today to work for peace and because of which Gandhiji agreed to break his fast. 14, The Effect of Mahatma Gandhi's Fast' Gandhiji broke his fast just now today. During last five days as a result of his fast great change in Delhi. Numerous mass meetings, processions and demonstrations in favour of communal harmony. As Gandhiji deteriorated this movement became more urgent and widespread. Gandhiji yesterday laid down certain conditions which related principally to Delhi and neigh bourhood. This morning representatives of all groups and communities including communal organisations accepted fully those conditions and pledged themselves to work for peace and harmony. Thereupon Gandhiji agreed to end his fast. 1, Cable to Indian envoys in Moscow, New York, Washington, London, Nanking, ‘Tehran, Batavia, Rangoon and Colombo, 18 January 1948, File No. 2(69)-48-PMS. 15. To Rajendra Prasad? New Delhi 19 January 1948 ‘My dear Rajendra Babu, 1 have received information from Mridula Sarabhai and other sources in Amritsar that the position in Amritsar has deteriorated very much. The news of the Gujrat train incident especially has led to this deterioration. Some of the Sikh gangs are moving about and threatening reprisals. There is considerable apprehension of these reprisals taking the shape not only of attacks on trains carrying Muslim refugees or stores to Pakistan but also raids on Pakistan villages, You will appreciate that any such raid will have an exceedingly bad effect not only on the general situation but also more particularly on the proceedings of the Security Council and the Kashmir situation. 1, Rajendra Prasad Papers, N.A.I. 18