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The Aga Khan, His Highness the Aga Sultan Sir Mohammed Shah, Chairman of the British Indian Delegation (Descended from the Prophet's daughter Fatima and therefore holy to millions of Mohammedans although frankly subsidized by the British Government, owner of the horse that won this year's Derby, he wears a faultless cutaway):
I have great pleasure in seconding the proposal of His Highness the Maharaja of Patiala.
James Ramsay MacDonald (Taking the Chair by acclaim):
Your Highnesses, my Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen: I have first of all to thank the Maharaja of Patiala and His Highness the Aga Khan. . . . My first duty as Chairman ... is to ask your consent, and I know it will be forth coming . . . , that I should convey our humble duty to His Majesty. . . . Also . . . our loyal and grateful appreciation of the kindly solicitude of Her Majesty the Queen. . . .
We are now at the very birth of a new history ! The declarations made by British sovereigns and statesmen, from time to time, that Great Britain's work in India was to prepare her for self-government have been plain*. . . .
We have come here to sit at one table with the set and sole purpose of India's advancement within the companionship of the Commonwealth. . . . Things have been said in the past, whether in anger, in blindness or for mischief, which we had better forget at these tables! . . .
The Maharaja Gaekwar of Baroda, His Highness Sir Sayaji Rao III (A grizzled gaffer in a scarlet skullcap, showIng off the fact that he alone of the princes present attended the 1877 Durbar at Delhi when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress):
. . . We are deeply beholden to His Majesty. . . . This scene involves the prosperity of India's millions. . . . Indeed [here he began to quote from Victoria] "in their prosperity [is] our strength: in their contentment our security; and in their gratitude our best reward. . . !"
The Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir, Colonel His Highness Sir Hari Singh (Notorious some years ago as "Mr. A," famed today as a benevolent reformer): ...
As allies of Britain we [the princes] stand solidly by the British Empire. . . . We are not assembled to dictate or to accept terms. We are met together to accept mutual interest for the common benefit! . . .
The Nawab Sir Akbar Hydari representing the Nizam of Hyderabad, Premier Feudatary of the Crown:
His Exalted Highness, the Nizam of Hyderabad, counts among his proudest titles that of "Faithful Ally of the British Government."* As with Hyderabad, so with all the States. I can assure the people of the Empire and the World that no hand shall sever the ties which bind the Princes to the Crown!
Mr. Srinivasa Sastri (No. 1 Hindu Liberal, injecting the first controversial note):
. . . Two statements of policy [the Montagu Declaration of 1917 reaffirmed by two recent statements of the Viceroy] shine like bright stars by which we can guide ourselves [to] the attainment of Dominion Status. . . .
Mr. Mohammed Ali Jinnah (Associate of the famed "Ali Brothers" whose violent Mohammedan nationalist program preceded the non-violent Gandhi movement for independence, turning somewhat sarcastically upon Mr. MacDonald):