Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-02
New Agreement for India
Called Landmark i'm History

independence" records the st. Paul
Pioneer Press, "Gandhi, the venerated
leader, asserted that the British gov
eminent had deprived the Indian peo-
pie of freedom, based itself on exploita-
ton OF the masses, ruined India eco
nomically, politically, culturally and
spiritually Since then Great Britain
has gone far to remedy the wrongs
of which he has complained; farther,
in fact, than ever before. Dominion
status under a system of government
which resembles legislatively that of the
United States has been offered.
Only authority over fiscal affairs, for
eign relations and national defense have
been withheld to be exercised by the
officers Of Great Britain'S government"
Their legislative body" it is pointed
out by the Salt Lake Deseret News, sis
to consist of two houses modelled after
the Congress of the United States. Dur
ing the conference spirit of mutual
forbearance has prevailed between the
Indian representatives and the Labor
government of Great Britain. The cloud
of Hindu-MoSlem antagonism has been
largely kept in the background under
the Skillful leadership of Prime Min
lister Macdonald. BY wise ignoring
of this aspect of the case the conferees
have been able to agree upon govern
mental structure which, it is to be
hoped, will be the instrument by which
peace may be brought to this restless
land"
"The British have taken a long
chance" advises the Providence Bulle-
tin, but they have taken it on the side
OF magnanimity. They have gone far
beyond the expectations of Indians in
the concessions made at London; they
have given the Indians definite goal
to aim at, while simultaneously they
have allowed for large measure Of
self-rule in working toward that goal.
Not only have they released Gandhi
but they have also raised the ban
against the Indian Nationalist Congress
so that that body might deliberate and
ponder over the London results"
The living theater has gone" says
the Dayton Daily News, but the living
drama remains. with India presenting a
spectacle of overawing interest. Gandhi
was put in Jail. Gandhi is put out of
jail. The most successful nation In
the world at governing alien peoples has
experimental with Gandhi in jail. Now
it experiments with Gandhi out of jail.
What play! What a camel I"
We are at a moment of crisis in the
Indian play. Gandhi has been in his
passive way stubborn insister on a
totally free India. He is set free to say
his say. 1t Is not to be supposed that
the British government expects by
gift of freedom to bride the Indian
leader. In prison or out, Gandhi is a
free man. In prison Gandhi is in
spirit perhaps more potent than out Of
prison. Ramsay Macdonald may have
felt this fact"
This ascetic old man has challenged
the attention of the world and has be-
come a. much greater power in. India
than the country's opulent princes"
states the Memphis Commercial Appeal
in considering his attitude toward the
proposed reforms, while the Danbury
Evening News asserts: mo matter how
we look upon the Indian question, no
matter how We feel about the practical
sides of the matter, we cannot deny
the glory of Gandhi, cannot ignore the
loftinesS of his soul, cannot deny the
hard facts of his immolation of self,
cannot deny his purity of life nor the
beauty of his crusade. He asks nothing
for himself; q few handfuls of coarse
food each day, hard bed at night, long
hours of hard labor at the loom and an
opportunity to study-that is all he
asks. A brilliant mind, talents that the
British Empire would delight to buy and
put at the service of the ruling Nordics,
and Gandhi refuses to do anything ex-
cept sacrifice himself for others"