IT is now certain that there will be a Jinnah-Nehru meeting on Saturday [May 11], following an exchange of letters between the two leaders on Friday evening. The Muslim League is generally believed to have made a considerable advance towards compromise without forsaking its fundamental principles which are that the Muslim majority zones shall constitute a separate state which may voluntarily and simultaneously with its creation surrender certain power to a union centre constituted on the basis of parity of representation all along the line.

The Working Committee is completely unanimous on the principle of no surrender of fundamentals and unless Congress recognises that the League by modifying its hitherto uncompromising attitude of opposition to any kind of centre at all has reached the limit of concession and accordingly moved up itself on that position thereby bridging the gulf between the two tangible parties, there is little chance of Jinnah-Nehru talks producing tangible results.

When the Conference meets on Saturday afternoon it will be known how far and whether at all … Congress [has] shown its readiness to give up its present uncompromising attitude.

The question of arbitration is reported to have been raised and a certain number of the Cabinet Mission is now said to be very keen on it….

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2021