Proposed Indian Round Table Conference 1922:
The Prince of Wales was due in Calcutta on 24 Dec and any more violent disorder there had to be prevented at all costs. During the next two months over 30,000 people were arrested in India as a whole and of the top leadership of the non-cooperation movement , only Gandhi remained free. There was a very real danger for the Govt.that its new wave of repressio would drive the Liberals and moderates back into the Congress camp, which would have been disastrous . Malviya had been urging the viceroy for some time to call a round table conference with gandhi and the moderates. In mid-December Reading agreed , promising at the same time to releasee the political prisoners, end the repressive measures, and even grant full provincial autonomy if Gandhi would call off the non-ooperation movement .At first gandhi agreed . But he quickly changed his mind, writing malaviya , "non-cooperation can cease only after satisfactory result of the conference.Reading proposed Round table - vetoed.
