Letter

Scope and Content

Holograph letter from Jawaharlal Nehru to Auchinleck, thanking him for his letter of 7 April and for writing in such a friendly way; admitting that he was a little distressed by Auchinleck's apparent lack of faith in his adherence to his word; and confessing to a sense of weariness at having to discuss the same thing over and over again, acknowledging that he is too indifferent a politician to enjoy prolonged talks which end vaguely and without producing results, although circumstances have conspired to make him play a politician's role.

Full transcription:

Dear Sir Claude, Thank you for your letter of the 7th. It was good of you to write to me in such a friendly way and I am grateful to you for it. It is true that I felt a little distressed at what I thought was your lack of faith in our adhering to our word. I did not think of this in any personal sense. And then there was a sense of weariness at having to discuss the same thing over and over again and repeat the same arguments. As a soldier and a man of action you will appreciate this. I am myself too indifferent a politician to like long drawn out talks which end vaguely and without producing results. And yet circumstances have conspired to make me play a politician's rôle and to indulge in these very arguments. Thank you again for all you have said in your letter. Yours sincerely, Jawaharlal Nehru.