Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-16
Gandhi Takes the Floor.

Mr.. Gandhi has lost no time in plac-
ing his cards on the London round
table. Proclaiming himself the spokes-
man of midas dumb and semi-starved
millions" the Mahatma declared before
the Federal Structures Committee yes
terday that his principals" the ALI
India Nationalist Congress, demand
complete independence from Great
Britain. A few hours before, Gandhi,
in a radio broadcast to the United
States, appealed to "the conscience OF
the world" to support midas plea for
self determination 1t speaks volumes
for traditional British sportsInanship,
even where the fate Of the empire is
concerned, that the full oficial tele-
graphic and radio facilities of the gov
eminent were placed at the Mahatma's
disposal for his truly moving plea for
American support-an historic episode
in transoceanic verbal communication.
Gandhi supplies plenty of evidence
that complete independence is what he
asks, but that he is willing to consider
taking less. He has come to the round
table, he says, absolutely in a spirit
of cooperation" and Ito find points Of
agreement" The Mahatna admits
that the truce of Delhi, in which he
bargafned with the viceroy, then Lord
Irwin, to accept the principle Of fedora
ton, responsibility at the center and
safeguards necessary in the interests
of India, is still In force. 1t Is on this
basis Of modified dominion status
that the imperial government is pre-
pared to deal. 1t was ready to COM
promise on more or less the same terms
at the first and abortive Indian round
table at London last Winter. From that
conference Gandhi was missing. The
British hope that the Mahatmas pres
ence in England may carry negotiations
to a more conclusive stage.
The venerated independence leader
thrilled st. James Palace with the tale
Of q dream he had as he approached
the British Isles from the mystic East.
1t was q vision OF Britain and an India
as partners" with all the equal rights
inherent in a partnership arrangement
an India mot held to Britain by force,
but by the sill1en cord Of love-" Gandhi
painted picture of two such nations
One a handful, but brave; the other a
very ancient people with glorious past
representing two great cultures, Islam
and Hindu" Stepping for the moment
out Of character as an implacable
paciflst, the Mahatma even envisaged
the possibility of Britain and India
fighting side by side" for the good
Of the whole world"
These are picturesque sentiments.
Their moderation is designed to mold
public opinion in midas favor, both In
Great Britain and throughout the world.
They will, no doubt, widely have that
effect. But when the Mahatma In the
same breath emphasizes that he does
mot for a moment minimize the abil-
ity of Britain to hold India in subjec-
ton under the sword" he touches on the
iron realities Of the situation, stripped
Of idealistic aspects. Barring a radical
change in British thought, the empire
is not yet ready to lift the yoke in which
the Eastern realm is harnessed.
Were midas dumb and semi-starved''
millions approximately as literate as the
inhabitants Of Australia, Canada, New
Zealand or South Africa; were they
fitted for self-government to anything
like the degree Of those daughter nations
of Britannia; were conditions, economic
and cultural, akin to those which exist
in the overseas dominions; were the
sprawling land of the Himalayas not a
house radically and religiously divided
against itself on bitterest ines-then It
is difficult to doubt that midas demand
for at least complete self-government
would be granted. Things being as they
are. Britain is not content to concede
anything but a highly liberallzed form
Of federated home rule, with the i'm
perial government retaining supreme
control Of finances, defense and foreign
relations.
Gandt; could return to Bombay to-
morrow with that brand of independ-
ence. No matter how long his loin cloth
and shawl permit him to Withstand the
rigors Of capricious British Autumn,
1t Is doubtful II he will ever achieve
more. Meantime the Mahatma Is as
sured of a worldwide audience which
will observe with kindly sympathy his
valiant effort to beard the British lion
In his den.