My Mother — Page 86
86 Chinese had been forced to move their capital, for six months, on deputation from the Court, to inaugurate India’s Diplomatic Mission there. The letter described in some detail all the factors involved. Chung King was subjected during the summer to heavy bomb- ing by the Japanese and was exposed to great danger. I would not be able to take my wife and daughter with me. My salary as Judge was in excess of the salary and allowances of the British Ambassador in Chung King, so I would receive no allowances. I would have the rank of Ambassador with the title of Agent-General. Despite all this Lord Linlithgow expressed the hope that I would accept the proposed assignment, as he could think of no one else who would discharge its responsibilities with such ability and dignity as I could. His letter caused me great concern. From 1935 to 1941, I had as Member of Government worked under great pressure and was now looking forward to my first vacation in seven years. We had rented a cottage at Gulmarg in Kashmir and had furnished it at consider able expense as our summer residence. Chung King’s situation, its trying climate, and its stark privations were a strik- ing antithesis of Gulmarg. There was nothing whatever in the proposed assignment that had the least attraction for me; every aspect of it repelled me. Lord Linlithgow’s invitation was a mark of great confidence. He had been disappointed over my choice of going to the Court; here was an opportunity of assuring him that I was appreciative of his confidence. I accepted. The greater part of my absence at Chung King was during the vacation of the Court. On my return, only one small matter