BOMBAY: The seventeen days old Jinnah-Gandhi talks that commenced on September 9 broke down on Wednesday at 7-30 p.m., according to an A.P.I. message. Mr. Gandhi not only refused to consider but emphasized his opposition to the basic demand of the Lahore Resolution of the All-India Muslim League. Clinging to the August Resolution of the A.I.C.C. Mr. Gandhi said that he was not prepared to recognize the hundred million Muslims in India as a nation.

Announcing the break-down Mr. M.A. Jinnah [said] “Mr. Gandhi from the very commencement of our talks made it clear that he had approached me in his individual capacity and that he represented no one but himself.” [He] regretted that he failed in the task of converting Mr. Gandhi. The Qaid-e-Azam added: “Nevertheless we hope that the public will not feel embittered and we trust that this is not the final end of our efforts.”

An appeal to the people of India not to become despondent because he and Mr. Jinnah had failed in converting each other was made by Mr. Gandhi. [He said] their failure to come to an agreement “should be regarded as an incentive for greater effort for establishing true unity among the various communities.” (Dawn, Delhi)

Published in Dawn, September 28th , 2014