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Official documents

The conference was inherently textual. Its ultimate object was to produce a text, the next Government of India Act, which would provide the constitutional basis for a new India. To reach this end-object the conference would produce millions of words of text, formally and informally. Some of the documents below preceded and were produced after the conference, but also most were the formal output recording what was said at and submitted to the conference. Plenary and committee speeches were recorded verbatim, circulated for approval, and later printed. The Manchester Guardian (24 Sep 1931, p. 8) estimated that 60,000 words were produced per day by the “speech factory” at St. James’s Palace.

Preceding the Conference

The Indian States (“Butler”) Committee Report (1929)

Sir Harcourt Butler led an investigation between 1927-29 into the relationship between the British as paramount power in Indian and the Princely, or Indian, States.

Report of the Indian States Committee, 1928-1929. (London: H.M. Stationery Office; 1929). Image from ProQuest's House of Commons Parliamentary Papers displayed with permission of ProQuest LLC.

The Indian Statutory Commission / “Simon” Report (1930)

The Government of India Act (1919) dictated that a review would be carried out within 10 years. The review was brought forward and began in 1928 under the stewardship of Sir John Simon, and an all-white committee of British Members of Parliament.

Preparatory Documents to the RTC

Liberal Indian leaders were desperate for Congress to participate in the conference and worked, unsuccessful, through the summer of 1930 to convince nationalist leaders to attend.

Statement issued on 5^th September by Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and Mr. M. R. Jayakar, of the Course of their Conversations with the Congress Leaders, July-September 1930. (London: H.M. Stationery Office; 1930). Image from ProQuest's House of Commons Parliamentary Papers displayed with permission of ProQuest LLC.

Though not invited to participate at the conference as delegates the Government of India prepared a despatch, after consultation with provincial governments, on constitutional reforms. The declaration of British Indian and Indian States leaders in favour of federation put the Simon Reports and Government of India Despatch out of the spotlight, although they were drawn upon increasingly as conference negotiations extended.

The Conference

Round Table Conference: First Session (12^th November 1930 - 19^th January 1931)

Proceedings (London: H.M. Stationery Office; 1931). Image from ProQuest's House of Commons Parliamentary Papers displayed with permission of ProQuest LLC.

Sub-Committees' Reports; Conference Resolution; and Prime Minister's Statement (London: H.M. Stationery Office; 1931). Image from ProQuest's House of Commons Parliamentary Papers displayed with permission of ProQuest LLC.

Round Table Conference: Second Session (7^th September - 1^st December 1931)

Proceedings (London: H.M. Stationery Office; 1932). Image from ProQuest's House of Commons Parliamentary Papers displayed with permission of ProQuest LLC.

Statement made by the Prime Minister to the Conference at the conclusion of its Second session on 1^st December 1931 (London: H.M. Stationery Office; 1931). Image from ProQuest's House of Commons Parliamentary Papers displayed with permission of ProQuest LLC.

Round Table Conference: Travelling Committee Reports (1932)

Round Table Conference: Third Session (17^th November - 24^th December 1932)

Indian Round Table Conference (Third Session) (London: H.M. Stationery Office; 1933). Image from ProQuest's House of Commons Parliamentary Papers displayed with permission of ProQuest LLC.

Post-Conference

Joint Select Committee (1933-34)

The proposals of the Round Table Conference were interrogated over 159 meetings by the Joint Select Committee, at which over 120 witnesses were called. The recommendations formed the basis of the Government of India Bill, passed in 1935.

Joint Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform [session 1933-34]. (London: H.M. Stationery Office; 1934). Image from ProQuest's House of Commons Parliamentary Papers displayed with permission of ProQuest LLC.