[INDIA] MOUNTBATTEN LOUIS: (1900-1979)

[INDIA] MOUNTBATTEN LOUIS: (1900-1979)

‘At the moment the whole use of Indian troops under my command…. [is]…. the subject of particularly strong criticism in India’

 

[INDIA] MOUNTBATTEN LOUIS: (1900-1979) British Admiral of World War II, later serving as the last Viceroy of India of British India (1947) and as the first Governor-General of the Dominion of India (1947-48). An interesting T.L.S., Louis Mountbatten, one page, folio, South East Asia Command Headquarters, 18^th November 1945, to Lieutenant-General Sir Gordon Jolly. Mountbatten states that 'It is perfectly true that Edwina, with her usual persuasiveness, got me to agree to send a message for your Red Cross week; but the more I think about it the less I like it at the moment', and continues to candidly explain his reasons, 'At the moment the whole use of Indian troops under my command in the Netherlands East Indies and French Indo-China is, as you know, the subject of particularly strong criticism in India. It is no secret that the Viceroy and C-inC are strongly opposed to the use of Indian troops in a manner which might be regarded as discriminating against the local Independence movements', further remarking 'I am of course merely carrying out the exact policy of H. M. Government, but the fact does remain that the less we advertise the connection of Indian troops with the South East Asia Command, the easier I feel it will be politically in India. I do hope you will realise the motives in my going back on my original agreement….' A letter of fine content relating to India in the immediate aftermath of World War II. Together with Edwina Mountbatten (1901-1960) English heiress & socialite, the last Vicereine of India as wife of Viscount Mountbatten of Burma. T.L.S., Edwina Mountbatten, one page, 4to, Grosvenor Crescent, London, 29^th August 1946, to General Sir Gordon Jolly, on the printed stationery of the War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Mountbatten thanks her correspondent for their letter and informs him that she has made a good deal of progress regarding recommendations for honours and awards to Red Cross personnel 'and am glad to say that Miss Shepherd Cross's name has been submitted to the authorities for the award of the O.B.E. I have also been enquiring into Colonel Basu's case and I understand that he is being considered for a C.I.E. in the New Year's Honours. I will pursue these two names to make certain that nothing goes wrong…..' Some light age wear and minor creasing and a few tears and a small area of paper loss to the upper left corner of Edwina Mountbatten's letter. G to VG, 2

 

General Sir Gordon Jolly - Chief Commissioner of the Indian Red Cross and St. John War Organisation.