Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-23
Gandhi May Not Sit
At the Round Table
BIZ A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON, August 22.-Antd pressing
anxieties. the British government al
ready is preparing for the indian
Round-Table Conference, which resumes
In London early next month. Twenty
seven Indian members Of Lord Sankey's
Federal Structure Committee, now ON
the water, win arrive In London . week
from today ready to take up again the
work they dropped IN January.
Mahatma Gandm Is not among them
and the chances Of his joining them
appear remote. The public has its own
troubles and Is only family. interested.
but those who follow Indian affairs
from the outside regard this as serious
bar TO the conferences final success.
T. 4
Some Of those who speak authorita-
lively insist on q more cheerful view.
They say that conditions are ilnnaeas-
urahly more suspicious than on the eve
OF the previous conference, that
Gandhi's presence would be valuable
and must be secured II possible, but
that his absence won't affect the pro-
ceedings vitality. They point out that
the delegates now on the way are the
same who, earlier this year, laid the
foundations Of settlements and can be
counted on to produce constitution
acceptable 20 the bulk Of Indian opinion.
However this may be. the prospects
are certainly less favorable than when
the conference adjourned so harmo-
niously in January. Long delays have
dimmed enthusiaSms, the extremists
have had time to grow more extreme.
the MoslenS have failed to come to-
gether and the Indian princes win not
arrive IN London pronouncing 80 unani-
mously as before the magic word
federation"
Moreover. the Indian Congress has
estranged feeling in England and there
Is much impotence with Gandai, whose
refusal to attend the conferences
hewtlders and afgers even his SYM
pathizers. The yiceroy told him . week
ago he had hoped he wouldn't allow
details 70 prevent his serving his country
IN the nlomentous discussion likely to
determine its destiny beyond your time
or mine" Many friends of India share
Viceroy Wtllingdon's disappointment
and Gandhi's demand for an Afbitrai
Board 10 decide between him and the
government IN alleged cases OF oppres-
sion in eollection OF the land tax has
added distrust to this feeling.
-
Sir John Simon, in letter to the
London Times. even suggested that h.
hind such demand is some contractual
right acquired by congress which binds
the Indian authorities. This is definitely
not 50 and the suggestion no more than
indicates the nuzzlement caused nv
Gandhi's tactics. This exists even n,
omcial circles. where the demand a
described as preposterous invitation
10 the government to abdicate and "a
set up rival rights equal TO It's own.
Indians here explain the mahafina
by his saying that he senses sudden
changes of feeling here and IN India
since Lord Twins return and believes
these are against his chances OF sue
cess IN London. He himself tells the
London News Chronicle that he thinks
the great civilian" In India does not
want him to come. This clearly points
70 the new vicercy and his advisers and
ny way OF contrast Gandhi expresses
sympathy with Lord Irwin at the
threatened failure Of his work for India.
= = -
The fact Is that Twins withdrawal
was from the 1rst regarded BY the /
Nationalists as a misfortune. It was
not expected, however, that the great
concihatcr would Immediately become
nothing but an ex-yiceroy, and his ex-
cluslon since his return from any part
In the Indian discussions produces 4
strong feeling that the Indian claims
are now to be less generously regarded
1t looks today as II Gaudhi Is bidina
his time, convinced on his side that
London VIII not IN the long run be
able to do without him. The next few
weeks win show.
tcopyrisht. issil
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