day correcting the error, and instructing Krishna Menon to tell the delegation that he was "deeply sensible of honour especially coming from my old University" but that he could not accept when he could be of no service. He stressed that it would be undesirable to enter into a contested election. Nehru cabled again on 30 October when his nomination was announced, complaining that "embarrassing questions are put to me" and stated "on no account am I going to be a party to a contest". Krishna Menon replied that the Vice-Chancellor had formally written asking whether Nehru accepted nomination; he noted that in 1847 Prince Albert had not consented to nomination but did not interfere when he was actually nominated. Nehru consulted Lord Pethick-Lawrence, and replied at length on 2 November explaining that reaction in India were "strongly unfavourable" to his contesting the election, and imploring Krishna Menon to get his supporters to withdraw his name. One of Nehru's biographers has claimed that "it was generally recognized that in any election Nehru would carry the majority". It was not until after the notice of election was published that the Vice-Chancellor received a letter signed by ten of Nehru's supporters indicating that Nehru did not wish to accept nomination, but as this decision had been communicated after the last date for withdrawal, a nominal election had to go ahead. The time allowed for votes to be cast was altered from the initial plan of 9 AM to 9 PM, and reduced to 2 PM to 2:30 PM. It was also announced that the names of voters and their votes would not be published. Nehru's supporters in Cambridge were reluctant to comply with his wishes, arguing that they had the right to elect whom they wished. However Krishna Menon did persuade them that Nehru would be embarrassed by a contested election. The Cambridge Union Society passed (by 158 to 129) an emergency resolution regretting Nehru's withdrawal on Wednesday 8 November, with Percy Cradock arguing in favour. Result Just under 200 people voted, during drizzling rain. After half an hour of voting, the Senior Proctor announced that Tedder had been duly elected, without giving any figures. References See also List of chancellors of the University of Cambridge 1950 University of Cambridge Chancellor election University of Cambridge Chancellor election Jawaharlal Nehru University of Cambridge Chancellor election Non-partisan elections