The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 50
50 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN with me and said, "How are you, my dear? Come, let's sit down here," and we sat down on the fender seat, which was rather broad, and afforded plenty of room. He made one feel one was welcome, and that the Viceroy was prepared to talk to you and listen to you. I could not imagine Lord Linlithgow doing it ever. He nominated me to represent India at the Dominions Ministers Conference in London, called by Prime Minister Chamberlain early in the war. When I came back I was invited to dinner with the Viceroy and Lady Linlithgow. There was nobody else, not even an ADC. It was the most intimate meal we ever had together and I told him what had passed in England, and I deliberately mentioned that we had been honoured by being invited to the Palace for dinner, by the King, in black tie suits not in white tie dress. The Viceroy himself used to insist upon not merely white tie, but full-dress uniforms, even during the war at his official, formal dinners. He raised his eyebrows and mumbled, "Mmm!" meaning that the King had been lacking in due ceremonial. In England they knew they might be bombed out of existence any night and they could not be bothered with ceremonial. R R R R R INTERVIEW - MAY 12, 1962 Question : I wonder if we might start, Sir, with the Third Roundtable Conference in 1932. Khan : The Third Roundtable Conference was a much more business- like affair than the First and the Second Roundtable Conferences. During the first two conferences, the discussion was mostly on general principles. In the Third Roundtable Conference we got down to making concrete proposals, on various aspects of the future constitution. Also, the membership was much more limited. There were only five or six Muslim delegates from British India, and I was consequently called upon to take a leading part on behalf of the Muslim delegation in the Third Roundtable Conference. His Highness the Aga Khan was, of course, our leader and he was a pillar of strength. But he had intimated at the First Roundtable Conference that he would not take part in debates and make speeches. His standing and prestige were, however, of very great help. When any occasion arose for conversations or negotiations behind the scene, with