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Gandhi Irwin Pact


Date Place Events Important Articles/Letters/Interviews
Gandhi Irwin Pact    
12 November, 1930 Yeravda Jail First Round Table Conference (RTC) started in London.
Gandhi in Yeravda prison.		  
19 January 1931   First RTC concluded.  
26 January, 1931 Yeravda Jail Gandhi was released from Yeravda Jail at 11 p.m. Sarojini Naidu, Jawaharlal Nehru, and other Congress Working Committee members also released.First anniversary of Independence Day celebrated.  
6 February, 1931 Lucknow V.S. Srinivasa Sastri, M.R. Jayakar, T.B. Sapru and other RTC delegates landed in Bombay.  
13 February, 1931 Allahabad CWC discussed political situation with some RTC delegates  
14 February, 1931 Allahabad Talks continued; Gandhi was authorized "to negotiate settlement with Viceroy."
Gandhi wrote to Viceroy; sought appointment for meeting, to discuss the political situation. He particulary urged Lord Irwin to appoint an inquiry committee to go into the police excesses, in orderm to find out whether there was really a change of heart on the part of the Government.		 Letter to Viceroy, CWMG
Vol. XLV, pp. 175 - 176;
17 February, 1931 Delhi Received Sastri, Sapru and Jayakar before meeting Viceroy; RTC terms and scope of Congress participation discussed.

Meeting with Viceroy. Gandhi's six demands which were the absolute minimum for peace negotiations to begin, were: general amnesty, immediate cessation of repression, restitution of all confiscated property, reinstatement of all Government servants punished on political grounds, liberty to manufacture salt and picket liquor and foreign cloth shops, and inquiry into the excesses committed by the police.		 Interview with Viceroy(Viceroy's Version),
CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 185 - 188;

Interview with Viceroy(Gandhiji's Report),
CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 188 - 191;
18-19 February, 1931 Delhi Discussion with Viceroy.
Mr. Churchill, in view of the discussions, commented,
"It is alarming and also nauseating to see Mr. Gandhi, a seditious Middle Temple lawyer, now posing as a fakir of a type well known in the East, striding half-naked up the steps of the Viceregal palace, while he is still organizing and conducting a defiant campaign of civil disobedience, to parley on equal terms with the representative of the King-Emperor."		 Interview with Viceroy(Viceroy's Version),
CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 193 - 197;pp. 205 - 206

Interview with Viceroy(Gandhiji's Report),
CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 197 - 201;pp. 206 - 207;
21 February, 1931 Delhi Interview by News Chronicle, London. Conveyed to CWC meeting result of conversations with Viceroy. Interview to "News Chronicle", CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 212 - 213;
22 February,1931 Delhi Gandhi was invited by Sir Mahomed Shafi to address the council of the All-India Muslim League.Gandhi in his speech, spoke about his desire for Hindu-Muslim unity. Speech at Council of All-India Muslim League, Delhi, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 216 - 217;
24 February, 1931 Delhi Viceroy explained to eight RTC delegates summary
of talks with Gandhi.		  
27 February, 1931 Delhi Summoned by Viceroy; no final agreement.
CWC met after Gandhi-Irwin talks.		 Interview with Viceroy,
CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 233 - 235
March 1, 1931 Delhi Gandhi met Viceroy, Lord Irwin in the afternoon. Lord Irwin refused the police enquiry. The most he was ready to do was to have any case investigated on the spot by the local authorities.The situation appeared desperate and Gandhi left the Viceregal Lodge at 6 p.m.

CWC altered draft formula of Gandhi-Irwin agreement without affecting the principle of its terms for truce.
Gandhi met Viceroy again at 9 p.m. Talks continued till 12.15 a.m. On return to residence at 1 a.m. informmed CWC members about his discussion with the Viceroy; at 2 a.m. began his silence day.		 Interview with Viceroy,
CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 239 - 242;
March 3, 1931 Delhi Gandhi met Viceroy.Gandhi secured a concession on salt tax but a formidable difficulty arose over the restitution of lands of the Bardoli peasants. At last, the Viceroy agreed to insert in the draft a statement indicating Gandhi's objection to the clause.
Gandhi had all along made it clear that civil disobedience could not be finally stopped or given up, as it was the only weapon in the hands of the people.It could, however be suspended.Ultimately the word "discontinued" was used.

Reluctantly CWC meeting supported draft formula of Gandhi-Irwin agreement. 		 Interview with Viceroy,
CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 243 - 245;
March 4, 1931 Delhi Resumed talks with Viceroy at night; agreement reached. CWC gave unanimous support to Gandhi-Irwin agreement. Letter to Viceroy, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 245 - 246;
Interview with Viceroy,CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 246 - 247;
Letter to G.Cunningham, CWMG Vol. XLV, p. 248;
March 5, 1931 Delhi At Viceroy's house Lord Irwin and Gandhi signed the provisional settlement which was officially announced at 5 p.m.
CWC passed resolution endorsing the provisional settlement and called for action in accordance with it.
Gandi issued statement to the Press on the settlement.		 APPENDIX VI, PROVISIONAL SETTLEMENT, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 432 - 436;
Statement to the Press, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 250 - 256;
Telegram to Provincial Congress Committees,CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 257 - 258;
 
March 6, 1931 Delhi   Interview to Journalists,  CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 263 - 267;
March 7,1931 Delhi   Speech at Public Meeting, Delhi, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 269 - 274;
March 10, 1931 Ahmedabad Gandhi reached Ahmedabad where arrangements were made to accord him a magnificient reception, as it was his first entry into the city after the historic march to Dandi, a year ago.  
March 12, 1931 Ahmedabad Young India reappeared in print; Gandhi explained
implications of Delhi agreement.		 How to do it, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 281 - 283;
March 14, 1931 Dandi At Jaipur State Banquet Lord Irwin observed: "Throughout conversations with Mr. Gandhi, I felt complete assurance that I could implicitly trust his word."  
March 19, 1931 Delhi   Interview with Viceroy,CWMG Vol. XLV,
pp. 313 - 316;
March 21, 1931 Delhi Viceroy convened conference of ruling Princes for informal exchange of views on framing the new constitution; Gandhi and Malaviya attended. Interview to the Press, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 318 - 320;
Discussion at Meeting of R.T.C.
 Delegates, Delhi, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 320 - 326;
March 23, 1931 Delhi Letter to Viceroy, requesting him to reconsider commutation of Bhagat Singh and two other prisoners. Letter to Viceroy, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 333 - 334;
March 26, 1931 Karachi Karachi Congress begins. Gandhi gives the inaugration address; Spoke on his efforts to save Bhagat Singh and his other associates. Speech at Karachi Congress, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 347 - 352;
March 29, 1931 Karachi Wrote in Navajivan, praising Bhagat Singh as brave and patriotic but warned the nation against resorting to violence. Bhagat Singh, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 359 - 361;
March 30, 1931 Karachi Karachi Congress passed resolution endorsing Gandhi-Irwin settlement; authorized Gandhi to represent the Congress at RTC. Speech on Provisional Settlement, Karachi Congress, CWMG Vol. XLV, pp. 364 - 370;
April 16, 1931 Bombay Gandhi bade farewell to Lord Irwin.  
April 18, 1931 Bombay Lord Willingdon sworn in as Viceroy of India.  
May 13, 1931 Simla Held talks with Lord Willingdon and H.W. Emerson on the problems arising out of Gandhi-Irwin pact. No detailed record in cwmg
May 15-16, 1931 Simla Continued talks with Viceroy and Home Secretary. No detailed record in cwmg
May 23, 1931 Nainital Wired H.S.L. Polak, Srinivasa Sastri and C.F. Andrews that absence of solution to communal question and attitute of some Provincial Governments made his leaving India difficult.
 		 Cable to V.S.Srinivasa Sastri, CWMG Vol. XLVI, p. 199;
Letter to V.S. Srinivasa Sastri, CWMG Vol. XLVI,
pp. 204 - 205;
June 4, 1931 Bardoli Wrote artivles in Young India, explaining his stnd on the RTC. R.T.C. and Congress, CWMG Vol. XLVI, p. 309;
'An Honest Doubt', CWMG Vol. XLVI, pp. 310 - 314;
June 8, 1931 Bardoli Jawaharlal Nehru met Gandhi. In the evening Gandhi left for Bombay accompnied by Jawaharlal Nehru and Abdul Ghaffar Khan.  
June 9, 1931 Bombay Attended Congress Working Committee which passed resolution that Gandhi alone should represent the Congress at R.T.C. No detailed record in cwmg
June 30, 1931 Bardoli Sir Ernest Hotson asked Gandhi on behalf of Viceroy if he was willing to serve on the Federal Structure Committee. Gandhi appealed to H.W. Emerson for release of Pandit Jagat Ram.
In interview to Press, said that he would, if invited, visit Lancashire to place before mill-owners Congress position regarding boycott of foreign cloth.		 Letter to H.W.Emerson, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 75 - 76;
Letter to H.W.Emerson, CWMG Vol. XLVII, p. 77;
Letter to H.W.Emerson, CWMG Vol. XLVII, p. 77;
Letter to H.W.Emerson, CWMG Vol. XLVII, p. 78;
Interview to Associated Press, CWMG Vol. XLVII, p. 83;
July 11, 1931 Bombay Viceroy invited Gandhi for discussion with H.W. Emerson on alleged breaches of Settlement by Government.  
July 15-22, 1931 Simla Held discussions with H.W.Emerson on the
 breaches of Settlement.		 A Memorandum,
CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 166 - 177;
July 18, 1931 Simla Had talks with Viceroy, Lord Willingdon. No detailed record in cwmg of talks from Gandhiji's point of view,
APPENDIX III, H.W. Emerson's note on Discussion with Gandhiji, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 430 - 441;
APPENDIX IV, Sir James Crerar's Note on Discussion with Gandhiji, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 441 - 442
July 20, 1931 Simla In interview to Associated Press, said that he might start on August 15 to attend Federal Structure Committee in London. Interview to Associated Press, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 164 - 165;
July 21, 1931 Simla Gave "Charge-sheet" to H.W.Emerson at Simla listing instances of breaches of Settlement. Had second rounds of talks with Viceroy; in interview to Associated Press, said that talks were inconclusive. Letter to Viceroy, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 178 - 179;
Letter to H.W.Emerson, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 179 - 180;
Interview to Associated Press, CWMG Vol. XLVII, p. 177;
August 11, 1931 Bombay Wired to Viceroy and Bombay Government that Government attitude was not favourable to enable him to proceed to London. Telegram to Viceroy, CWMG Vol. XLVII, p. 281;
Telegram to R.M.Maxwell, CWMG Vol. XLVII,
pp. 281 - 282;
August 13,1931 Bombay Congress Working Committee passed resolution to continue honouring Delhi pact, but not to take part in RTC.
Gandhi spoke to press representatives.		 Telegram to Viceroy, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 286 - 287;
Interview to the Press, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 287 - 288;
August 18, 1931 Ahmedabad Released correspondence regarding breakdown of negotiations with Government; gave interview to Press. Interview to Associated Press, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 312 - 313;
August 25, 1931 Simla Reached Simla at 11 a.m. accompnied by Vallabhbhai Patel, Prabhashankar Pattani, M.A. Ansari and Jawaharlal Nehru; Met H.W. Emerson. Interview to Associated Press, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 356 - 357;
August 26, 1931 Simla Had three hours' talk with Viceroy in morning; announced to Press that he was sailing from Bombay for London on August 29. Interview to the Press, CWMG Vol. XLVII, p. 357;
Letter to H.W.Emerson, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 358 - 359;
No detailed record in cwmg of meeting.
August 27, 1931 Simla Left Simla for Bombay in the evening. Letter to Viceroy, CWMG Vol. XLVII, pp. 365 - 366;
August 28, 1931   Government communique, known as Second
Settlement released		 APPENDIX IX,The Second Settlement, CWMG
Vol. XLVII, pp. 449 - 450

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