The Washington times., 1931-01-26
FREE SPEECH.
BAN ALSO
LIFTED
Mahatma Imprisoned Since
May 5 Released From
Jail by Lord Irwin Decree

LONDON, Jan. rs GN.SD.
Mahatma Gandhi, central figure
of the Indian Nationalist move
ment today will be uncondition-
ally released from Yeroda jail
near Poona, where he has been
held prisoner since May 5 follow
ing arrest shortly after launching
a civil disobedience campaign
against the British Indian govern
ment.
The significant gesture of good
will toward self government in
India was made in an official an
nouncement by Lord Irwin, the
viceroy.
Assembly Law Revoked
In addition, Lord Irwln's state
ment revoked the various DEGREES
making public assembly unlawful,
thus granting full opportunity to
Nationalists to discuss and con-
slider unhampered the offer of
future qualified dominion status
for India made by Premier j.
Ramsay Macdonald at the closing
of the recent Indian round-tatle
conference here.
In freeing Gandhi from confine.
nent Lord Irwin's statement said:
my government, in cOnsulta-
tion with the local govern
mentS, have thought it right
that the members of the Con-
greSs committee of the all
India Congress should enjoy full
liberty of discussion between
themselves and with those who
have acted as members since
January l, $780,"
Peace Hope Seen
The government made the re-
leases of the independence leaders
unconditional, the statement ex-
planned, because it was felt that
"the best hope of restoration of
peaceful conditions lies in these
discussions being conducted by
those concerned under the terms
of unconditional liberty"
Concluding by promising speedy
government cooperation in return
for peace in India, the statement
said:
'T am content to trust those
who will be affected by our
decision to act in the same
spirit as inspires it, and 1 am
confident they will recognize
the Importance of securing for
these grave issues calm and
dispassiOnate examination"
A Central. News dispatch from
Llahabad, India, said today that
Pandit J. Nehru, first president of
the all-India congress imprisoned
shortly after Gandhi, has been
freed as the first of the ma
tionalists granted unconditional
release by Lord Irwin's edict.
An Exchange Telegraph dis
patch from Bombay reported that
since Monday is Gandhi's regular
"silence day." he will probably
remain in Yeroda prison until the
period of self-imposed silence ends
at 3 p. m. today 90 a. m. Eastern
standard time) when his release
Is expected.
POetess to Be Freed
Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, Indian
poetess who will be one of those
given freedom, has already packed
her belongings in expectation Of
speedy release. Hundreds of her
friends gathered outside the
prison to await her appearance
and escort her in triumph to
Bombay.
The release of the Nationalist
leader and his foremost crusaders,
according to Bombay messages,
confronted the authorities in the
cities and towns close to Poona
with a difficult problem. Mob
passion may prevent an open
handed release, as it was feared
even Gandhi himself might be
unable to control the outburst Of
joyous demonstration in his honor
If he should be allowed to step
into the open without further
ado. There is a possibility, there
fore, that he will be freed as he
was jailed-unostensibly spirited
away in the dark of night to
some unreVealed location and set