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ANNEX II.
43
SECRET.
Allotted to Political Department
146 groups
747.
Copies Circulated
DECYPHER OF
TELEGRAM.
From
Government of India, External Affairs Department, to Secretary of State for India.
Dated New Delhi, 21.45 hours, 1st February, 1940,
Received 18.20 hours, 1st February, 1940.
Immediate.
318.
Addressed to Secretary of State for India repeated to Kabul number 51.
2.
Your telegram No. 475 dated January 30th.
Cunningham thinks that Utmanzai Wazirs to some extent and probably Mahsuds, though they are distant, may be expected (sic) to intervene but they will be mainly the present element of the bad characters in somewhat enlarged numbers. He thinks and we agree that necessity of some form of action on the ground in the salient outweighs above consideration. Inaction is in our opinion impossible in view of the continuance of the raiding menace in the districts and recent signs of the extension of the raiding activity to Kohat district.
Public indignation moreover demands measures for the restoration of confidence in the districts, particularly in Bannu area, and this cannot be done nor can main communications be secured until gang refugees has been neutralised.
3.
Viceroy is holding conference tomorrow and we will reply on points (a) and (b) of your telegram thereafter.
4a
We are going ahead with active preparations for the
operation..
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