Date: 16 December 1931
Location: London
Speaker: Aga Khan III
Source: Speeches of Aga Khan III – K K Aziz
Full Text
Muslims cannot afford two organisations – amalgamate Muslim League and All India Muslim Conference – party branches – provin cial autonomy.
Muslim India is at the parting of the ways. Islam is in a ferment.
The Muslims stand united by the resolutions of the Muslim Con ference of 1929, which was a landmark in their political development.
The Muslim League has done and is doing great work in creating political consciousness and it is impossible to exaggerate its work in political development. I have done my best for the Muslims through both organisations and I believe that the Moslems cannot afford two organisations with identical pro grammes. Conflict between the two organisations has hitherto been avoided by the tact of the leaders. I am convinced that the time has now come for the amalgamation of the two organisations and that amalgamation is absolutely imperative. I suggest that the amalgamated body be called the United League Conference and that it should focus political life by serving real Muslim interests.
Any conflict between the two organisations at this juncture is suicidal and I strongly urge upon the Muslim leaders to hold a joint meeting of the working committees of both bodies with a view to framing rules for a common organisation. Branches should be organised immediately everywhere for carrying on a common programme formulated by leaders. The Muslim Confer ence resolution is satisfactory and has stood the test of experience.
I hold that the Government must implement its pledges for federal responsibility. The Muslims must urge the introduction of provincial autonomy, since they are convinced that the Provinces cannot wait. This has been advocated by all political parties for the last eight years. There is a need for political training among Muslims in order that all their demands may be secured.
Source: The Times, London, 19 December 1931.
Yakub received this telegram from the Aga Khan when he (Yakub) was in Bombay in connection with the work of the Army Retrenchment Committee.
The news is datelined Bombay, 17 December. I presume that the telegram was sent by the Aga Khan on 16 December.