The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 66
66 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN me. I am quite prepared to rely on your word. " This was very flattering. Probably he did not express any further doubts on this question in the Committee. Maybe having already expressed his doubts he did not intend to take the matter any further anyhow. But it was very nice of him to put the matter the way he did. Lord Derby I knew very well also, but I suggested to His Highness, the Aga Khan, that if he would kindly ask Lord Derby to luncheon as they were good friends, both being racing gentlemen, and would ask me to meet him at lunch, I thought that would be a good atmosphere in which to discuss the transfer of law and order with him. This was arranged and at the end of the discussion, he said with a laugh, "It does not matter whether I am satisfied or not, but I can make one promise to you, that I will not raise the matter again in the Committee. " I said, "Lord Derby, that is not enough," at which he laughed again and said, "You are a hard bargainer, what is it that you want?" I said, "I want you to advocate the transfer of law and order. " He looked at the Aga Khan and then looked back at me, and said, "All right. I am prepared to say that I am satisfied with the proposed transfer. " With Lord Zetland, I could not make much progress in argument. It was true that whereas under what was known as the Lucknow Pact, the Muslims had secured a representation in the Bengal Legislature, which, in effect, gave them only 28 percent of the total house - 40 percent of general constituencies - and the Communal Award gave them 48. 4 or 48. 8, and therefore the difference looked very great. Lord Zetland went on pressing that point; I went on pressing that the injustice from which the Muslims had already suffered - being a majority and having only 28 percent representation - was so great that any fair correction of it was bound to appear large. In the end he said, "Look, Zafrulla, you cannot convince me that this is a fair apportionment, and it looks as if I cannot convince you. But let me tell you this, I have done all I could in the Committee, and the Committee are determined to uphold the decision that has been reached, so that should be comfort enough for you. " Again, the way these gentlemen in high positions - Lord Zetland later became Secretary of State for India - treated one was very gratifying. After all, who was I? So far as the Committee was concerned, I was an outsider, occupying no particular position, not even in a representative capacity; a private individual. Yet, they received me