The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 102
102 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN approval to the Assembly it was all politics again. The Congress opposed because they were the opposition, though Sir Homi Mody, the President of the Bombay Millowners' Association, abstained on the vote, which in effect meant that he supported it. The Muslim League also abstained. Thus the trade agreement did not obtain the approval of the Assembly, though Mr. Jinnah in his speech in the Assembly did say that the new agreement was miles better, tons better, than the previous one, and paid me a personal compliment. He was very nice about it, but, again, the voting was pure politics. Government gave effect to the Agreement disregarding the vote of the House, and everybody was happy. Congress knew it was a good agreement and that it would work well for Indian interests. Working with the Board of Trade on it and meeting so many people in England added a good deal to my knowledge and experience of these matters. The Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, who was not given to paying compliments, shook me by the hand, and said, "A good job, well done!" Question : Why did Birla and the other Congress people go along with you in London? Why did not they oppose you there, since they knew the Congress would oppose you when you got your agreement back to India ? Khan : As I have said, that was politics. They co-operated with me in London because they thought it was a good opportunity for them to be in on the whole business after I had given that assurance to Parshotam Das Thakar Das. He must have told them that his experience of me during the Roundtable Conferences had been that I meant what I said. They knew then that they could by co-operating with me put me in a good position to fight on behalf of India, and would thus succeed in safeguarding themselves against any harm to their interests and could help me push India's interests with regard to other matters besides the interests of the mill owners. Once they were satisfied on the commercial aspects of the new agreement it would not matter to them whether Congress then opposed it for political purposes or supported it. Congress opposed because they were the opposition, but I knew that they too thought it was a good agreement on its merits. To get back to the Coronation; that was not politics in any sense at all. It was a very delightful experience during which the graciousness and hospitality of the Royal family were to the fore. Those of us who