[Swatantra party Letter]

Summary

This untitled two-page handwritten memorandum sets out proposals for increasing the circulation of Headline, which the note says is currently 2,000 and could be raised to 5,000. Its central political recommendation is that communism should be opposed in India and that the Swatantra Party should form the government, with the Congress in opposition. The memorandum argues that support for the Swatantra Party will remain difficult while suspicions persist that it represents capitalists and vested interests, and therefore recommends removing that suspicion.

The note proposes a practical publicity arrangement between Headline and the Swatantra Party. The party could provide advertisements, a monthly subsidy, a substantial sum (suggested as Rs. 25,000), regular advertising material, literature for publication, and interviews with senior party figures. It also suggests that the Forum of Free Enterprise could provide additional advertising, and recommends keeping the arrangement as secret as possible. The document is an internal working memorandum rather than a signed or dated statement; no author, title, date, publisher, or formal recipient is identified.

Key points

• Headline’s current circulation is recorded as 2,000, with a proposed increase to 5,000.
• The memorandum recommends opposing communism in India and supporting a Swatantra Party government with Congress in opposition.
• It identifies continuing suspicion of the Swatantra Party’s links with capitalists and vested interests as an obstacle to support.
• Proposed support includes advertisements, a monthly subsidy, and a possible substantial payment of Rs. 25,000.
• The Swatantra Party is asked to supply literature, interviews with senior leaders, and further directions for publication.
• The Forum of Free Enterprise is proposed as another source of advertising support.
• The final point recommends maintaining confidentiality around the arrangements.