Not all the rulers signed the Instrument of Accession at once. Afraid that the Socialist Congress Party would strip him of his amusements, flying, dancing girls and conjuring delights which he had only just begun to indulge since he had only recently succeeded his father to the throne, the young Maharajah of Jodhpur arranged a meeting with Jinnah. Jinnah was aware that both Hindu majority and geographical location meant that most of the Princely States would go to India, but he was gratified by the thought that he might be able to snatch one or two from under Patel’s nose. He gave Jodhpur a blank sheet of paper.
‘Write your conditions on that,’ he said, ‘and I’ll sign it.’ Elated, the Maharajah returned to his hotel to consider. It was an unfortunate move on his part, for V. P. Menon was there waiting for him. Menon’s agents had alerted him to what Jodhpur was up to. He told the young ruler that his presence was requested urgently at Viceroy’s House, and reluctantly the young man accompanied him there.
The urgent summons had been an excuse, and once they had arrived, Menon had to go on a frantic search for the Viceroy and tell him what had happened. Mountbatten responded immediately. He solemnly reminded Jodhpur that Jinnah could not guarantee any conditions he might make, and that accession to Pakistan would spell disaster for his state. At the same time, he assured him that accession to India would not automatically mean the end of his pleasure. Mountbatten left him alone with Menon to sign a provisional agreement.
