New-York tribune., 1922-03-19
Bv Leo Pasvolsky
WASHINGTON, March Is

at the beginning of February
T. the British government in In
=. ordered the arrest of the Nation
~. leader. "Mahatma" Gandhi. and
..,.ral DAYS later reversed its decision
;. III. ground that Gandhi had an
..nuced the cessation OF certain phases
:, his uon-co-operative movement
.,-.lv the threat Of arrest would have
...n N. very last thing in the world
!. make the intrepid Hindu leader give
!, hi, activities. II anything. the
.,-.,t would have been welcomed bv
Kim There was s different reason for
Il, announcement and for the conse-
.,uen. sction OF the British government.
rh... events, which took place a
,onth ago represent the last stage of
poIicy which had been carried on in
india for several years under the di-
,.eion Of Edwin S. Montagu, the Brit
m Secretary of State for India. Thi,
oopcy which seemed to have been
unfolding most hopefully for the future
>. India and Of the British Empire.
reered great setback in recent
souths which for the time being
v.eked al Of Its beneficial results and
nv. powerful weapon into the hands
Il the conservative elements in Eng
IL
arly opposed to Mr.. Montagu's liberal
pllcy In dealing with the Indian situa-
hon, and have now proved to be strong
enough to force his resignation. The
rr.s. Of Gandhi, which has now really
aken place, is the first result Of this.
Salient Points of British
Change in Indian Policy
ID view Of the fact that the British
Wiley with regard to India is now ap-
Msntly entering upon new and rad
ally different stage. it seems most
nprtant to review, in the present
ssnection, some Of the salient features
t,he situation that had brought about
is state Of affairs.
Well informed observers Of Indian
l'sirs-British and Hindu alike-agree
tat the whole situation in India has
Ken, up to the present, dominated by
tut man, Gandhi, named by his fol-
avers "Mahatma," which means "the
great SOUL
A. the end of 1920 Gandhi declared
himself as the head OF 8 nationalist
P,Nsnent which was to include all Of
irdis, Irrespective of caste or creed.
IN an amazingly short time he rode to
sf Tefy heights of popularity on the
rest OF a triple wave of popular feel
ing and resentment. The three ele-
nents constituting this wave of pop
tsr feeling furnished Gandhi with the
sunitions of his movement. He him
Il provided the theology of the move
mt its method OF operation and,
rat was most important of all, a uni
Ting influence, which knitted together
L various and diverging factors.
The three grievances which the
csndhi movement sought to redress
IN the question of self-government for
rdia, the matter of the so-called Pun
sb affair and the Khalifat idea.
The struggle for government in
nda, which is of long duration, be-
ame especially acute during the war.
'hough several steps had been taken
" the British government in the
Erection of giving India q certain
hare in her own government, these
teps are considered inadequate by
iandhi. What he wants is Swaraj, or
omplete self-government.
fierce Gandhi Nationalism
Dominated Native Congress
In 1920 the Indian National Congress
ook place. Dominated By Gandhi's
srce and uncompromising nationalism,
his Congress announced as It's object
The attainment Of Swaraj by the peo-
'le Of India by ali legitimate and peace
Nl means But the phrase "legiti-
nate and peaceful means did not
the possibility of using the
let Of separation from the British
-mpire as means OF attaining Swaraj.
speaking in favor of resolution pro-
posed BY him at the Congress, Gandhi
announced the following creed:
What 7 say Is that it is derogatory
% national dignity to think of the
psmanence OF the British connection
n any cost. We are laboring under s.
~sTous wrong, which it Is the per-
'0aa duty Of every Indian to get re-
afs'sed This British government not
'l'y refuses to redress the wrong, but
" refuses to acknowledge its mistakes,
ma so long as it retains its attitude
= Ia not possible for us to say all that
's want to be or all that we want to
'e3 retaining the British connec-
ton. re 4L pu;.;.L 4
: iof the advancement of India we do
W want to destroy it. But if it is
consistent with our national self
sSpect, then it is our bounded duty to
lsstroy it."
In the same speech Gsndhi gave
'sFning that "the British people will
.a'e to beware that if they do not
1H' 70 DO justice it will be the
''unden duty of every Indian to de-
troy the empire"
-as grievance connected with the