Circular enclosing a memorandum on the treatment of those who have opposed the war effort but now change their attitude

GovernmentSECRET

Date: 1942-01-10
From: Sir Richard Tottenham, C.S.I., C.I.E., I.C.S., Additional Secretary to the Government of India
To: The Chief Secretary to the Government of Madras, Bombay, Bengal, the U.P., the Punjab, Bihar, the Central Provinces, Assam, N.W.F. Province, Orissa, Sind
Classification: SECRET
File reference: No. 7/2/42-Political(I)
Page: single sheet, complete — this is the earliest document in the archival sequence
Document type: Circular letter (Government of India, Home Department)

Signatories

Sir Richard TottenhamAdditional Secretary to the Government of IndiaAutograph signature, partly legible: "R. Tottenham"
[name not given]Under Secretary to the Government of IndiaAutograph signature on the first forwarding endorsement, illegible
[name not given]Under Secretary to the Government of IndiaAutograph signature on the second forwarding endorsement, illegible

Marginalia & annotations

Boxed registry stamp "POL 4737 1942" upper right; boxed receipt stamp "RECD. POL. DEPT. 30 JUN 1942 INDIA OFFICE" at centre left. Manuscript "75" and "76" upper right. "Mss." at foot left. Red archival "1".

Transcript verbatim

No. 7/2/42-Political(I).                        SECRET.
Government of India.
Home Department.
        .....

From
        Sir Richard Tottenham, C.S.I., C.I.E., I.C.S.,
                Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
To
        The Chief Secretary to the Government of Madras.
                                                Bombay.
                                                Bengal.
                                                the U.P.
                                                the Punjab.
                                                Bihar.
                                                the Central Provinces.
                                                Assam.
                                                N.W.F. Province.
                                                Orissa.
                                                Sind.

                New Delhi, the 10th January 1942.

Sir,
        I am directed to enclose herewith a memorandum on the difficult
question of the treatment of individuals or groups who have
hitherto opposed the war effort, but who may now announce a
change in their attitude. The cases of individual security prisoners
who may fall within this category should, it is suggested, receive
the special attention of the authorities who are carrying out the
periodical review of the grounds for detention under Rule 26.
The issues involved, however, go beyond individual cases and
present a difficult problem of policy with regard to the determination
of which the Government of India would be glad to have the assistance
of Provincial Governments. I am therefore to request that the
considered views of the Provincial Government on the questions
raised may be communicated to this Department as soon as possible.

                        I have the honour to be,
                                Sir,
                        Your most obedient servant,

                        [signed] R. Tottenham

                Additional Secretary to the Govt. of India.

                        No. 7/2/42-Political(I).

Copy forwarded to Chief Commissioners Delhi, Coorg, Ajmer-Merwara.

                        By order,

                        [signed, illegible]

                Under Secretary to the Government of India.

                        No. 7/2/42-Political(I).

Copies for information forwarded to P.S.V./S.G.G.(Pub)/Director,
Intelligence Bureau.

                        By order,

                        [signed, illegible]

                Under Secretary to the Government of India.

[registry stamps: POL 4737 1942 · RECD. POL. DEPT. 30 JUN 1942 INDIA OFFICE]