Telegram from the British Foreign Office on the policy pursued in India (London, 19 February 1947)

Text
On 19 February 1947, the day before the announcement by British Prime Minister Clement Attlee that independence would be granted to India, the Foreign Office issues a secret telegram outlining the policy pursued by the United Kingdom in India. It particularly explains the process of ‘self-government’ that has long been applied by the British in India. The Foreign Office notes the problems associated with the creation of an interim government but emphasises the government’s firm intention to leave India by June 1948 at the latest.

Source and copyright

Source: Great Britain. Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [Telegram from Foreign Office to Washington (19 February 1947)]. 19-02-1947. No 1618. Kept in: The National Archives of the UK (TNA). FO - Records created or inherited by the Foreign Office, Foreign Office: Political Departments: General Correspondence from 1906-1966. POLITICAL: FAR EASTERN (F): General (61). Situation in India: preparations for the transfer of power. Code 61 File 905 (papers 2292 - 2759). 01/01/1947-31/12/1947, FO 371/63529.

Copyright: (c) The National Archives of the United Kingdom

This document is also available in…

The PDF content cannot be displayed in the browser. To view the content, please install
Download Content