| Description | Krishna Menon's suggested text for Press release.
'It is now learnt that Pandit Nehru, who has been informed of the nomination of his name for the Chancellorship of the University, does not desire to be a party to an election contest for the Chancellorship of the University. Some of us who had hoped to see him as Chancellor deeply regret, whatever be the reason, that this will not now be possible. At the same time we feel very strongly that we must respect his wishes in this matter. We would therefore request all Senators who have been so readily forthcoming in the very short time during which this candidature was known, for all practical purposes to regard this as a non-contested election and the name of Pandit Nehru as being withdrawn.
In intimating his inability to become a participant in the election contest, Pandit Nehru has expressed warm appreciation of the honour sought to be done to him by electing him to the very high office of Chancellor of the University ['of which he is a distinguished member' crossed out] The Prime Minister of India has also expressed his gratitude to all Senators and friends who have thought of putting forward his name and declared their support. For some of us who had hoped to see Pandit Nehru as Chancellor of Cambridge next year, this will come as a severe blow, but it will be very inappropriate for us not to respect the express wishes of Pandit Nehru in this matter, which must be the final word.'
Marginal amendment by Krishna Menon;
'Therefore at the request of the Pandit Nehru and because he does not want to enter into a contest we have with regret decided to withdraw his name from the contest'. |