The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-26
Worlds Eyes ON GandM as He
Returns to Turbulent India
Won Sympathy for Cause
Despite London Defeat,
Mahatma Believes.
BY MILTON BRONNER
NEA Service Writer


- Gandhi, musing now in a little
tent on a steamers deck, is near
ing his homeland, India. He will
arrive shortly after Christmas.
And as he launches his career
into another year, people in the
England he has left behind are
weighing his visit, considering his
effect on the British, and the effect
Of his visit on Gandhi.
It may be stated at once that
public men like Premier Ramsay
Macdonald, and also the general
average Briton, have been disap-
pointed in him. Not in his per-
sonal appearance, but in his acts
and also in his lack of action.
1t was hoped that when he came
to attend the second round table
conference he would be willing to
compromise for the sake of definite
action. But, as a cold matter of
fact, Gandhi has not yielded an
inch. Where he stood before he
came to England he still stands.
Knew India Watched
He was in critical position. He
came to London as the representa-
tive Of the All-India Congress,
which claims to represent IS per
cent of midas vast and teeming
population. His every step was
watched by dark-skinned college
bred Hindu reporters, who cabled
back what he said and what he did.
Gandhi knew that the vast mass
Of his people were illiterate, but
he also knew that by word of mouth
the news the Hindu papers printed
would come to the remotest village.
The lowly people trusted their
holy man, and he could not let them
down. And, from his and their
viewpoint, he did not.
He was adamant for India being
master in her own house. He was
unyielding in his demand that India
should control her own army, her
own finances.
Puzzling to BritOns
And he puzzled the British. They
could not get him at all When
questioned, he listened with close
attention and he answered with
what seemed smiling and disarm-
ing frankness.
But when his words were weighed,
he had given nothing away. 1t
seemed to the Britons that he was
a master of the weasel word.
From certain section of the
newspapers, especially die-hard
Tory ones, he had a bad press.
When they did not seek to make
him a figure of fun, they impa-
tiently said it was no use bandying
words with him. The thing to do
was to send him packing and stand
no more of his nonsense.
Gandhi himself thinks his trip to
England has been worth while. He
explained to me that he had had
many contacts with English people
which he deems very valuable to
his cause. He is certain that when
and if he is compelled to take
action, they will understand him
and his motives and help explain
him to their fellow countrymen.
Fearlessness Proved
Everybody who knew anything at
all about Gandhi, knew he was
fearless. He proved it long years
ago when he worked an ambulance
at the front in the Boer war, help
ing British troops under fire.
He has proved it time and again
when the British authorities went
after him in India. He proved it
again when he was recently in Eng
land. For, one fine day he made
a trip up to the mills towns of
Lancashire.
That was rather daring thing to
do. The cotton textaile. mills of that
section have been hard hit by the
Indian boycott on British goods.
There was always the chance that
Gandhi might have rough time
up there.
Instead, it turned out to be a
sort of triumph for the Mahatma.
Out of work mill-handS and their
women folk cheered him.
Those humble mill workerS-men
and women-believed that the cause
of the union and the abolition of
slavery was a bigger thing than
their getting cotton. So they saw in
Gandhi man battling for the COM
plete freedom and independence of
his people.