Evening star., 1932-01-31
BRITAIN'S FIRM POLICY
SEEN HOLDBACK IN INDIA
Difficulties of London Conference Re-
viewed, With Plea for "Human Right
to Speedy Freedom"

| be effected. In other words, India
should be free from all safeguards in
| the course of the next or 10 years.
Was Britain really prepared to give
India freedom to manage her own af-
fairs according to her lights in the very
near future? That was the question of
questions that Gandhi came over to
ask and arrive at settlement with the
British government, but not to waste
time over the details, the discussions
over which would sidetrack rather than
help to clinch the issue.
Mr.. Gandhi was we'll aware that the
minorities in India presented prob
lens. He was in sympathy with their
legitimate claims and would go a long
way to satisfy them. But he was anX-
iouS that their problems be threshed
out in India, for they were all domestic
questions. For in India 1t would be
possible to secure better representatives
of the minorities to deal with. They
would be free from the peculiar influ-
enceS of the social and political at
mosphere of London Again in India,
the delegates would be subjected to
the healthful influence Of Indian pup
lie opinion. For the aforementioned
reasons Mr.. Gandhi would rather dis
cuss the details of communal settle
ment at home rather than abroad. He
was more certain of success there than
In London.
Not Entirely Hopeless.
was not altogether hopeless. He was
waiting for chance to convince him.
self and his followers that there were
signs of change of heart on the part
of the British government toward In
dia. He would go a long way in ar
irving at an amicable settlement if he
was convinced that Britain really
means to give India freedom at the
earliest possible day. But, unfortunately
for all parties concerned, Pandit Jah-
warlal Nehrut, the great leader of the
young India party, was arrested and
sent to prison without giving him
chance to meet Mr.. Gandhi and dis
cuSs the situation with him.
The government had nothing to lose
but everything to gain by waiting for
a week or two without arresting Nehrut.
1t was a clear sign for those VINO could
read the signs of the times t'lat there
was no indication of a change of policy
or of heart toward India. Gandhi
hates the attempts at violence made
in some parts of the country which
ish officials in India. The government
passed special ordinances in Bengal
which armed the special tribunals and
the police with powers and authority
which rendered the lives and liberties
of the peaceful individuals insecure
and helpless.
AS the accredited leader of the peo-
pie of India Mr.. Gandhi wanted an
interview with the viceroy to discuss
the situation with him; it may be per-
haps to offer his own suggestions to
ha hnU Haa1 with
the situation without making the lives
of the innocent people intolerable by
the free application Of the powers
given to the officers Of the government
by the special ordinances The reply
of the yiceroy was at first a fiat re-
fusal to discuss with Gandhi and an
immediate order for his arrest and de-
tention in prison without trial.
How India Views Situation.
India seems to have accepted the
situation as an insult to her and a
derial of the speedy realization of the
hope of freedom.
Under the present circumstances the
hopes entertained by some people in
England and India that the Round
liable Conference would solve the prob
lem of Indias freedom seem to be
blasted The British statesmen appear
to be more responsible for the present
impasse by their adoption of the policy
of violence than the people Of India,
though some of them may appear to be
mere idealists.
Britain seems to think-at all events
the present party in power seems to
believe-in the firm policy idea for the
Oriental The same idea has made the
English people make many mistakes in
South Africa, Ireland and even in
this country. She has started on that
reckless policy in India also. But there
are still some great men and women
in Britain. both inside and outside the
government. 1t is hoped that Britain
will rise to the occasion and do the
big thing in India before it is too late.
India needs peace and good will-so
does Britain. Can repression ever
create good will? Could a constitution
be ever pressed on a people at the point
Of the bayonet?
1t is only by assuring India that she
has right, human right, to speedy
freedom to manage her own affairs
that the efforts at the London Con-
ference could be said to be successful
1t is not too late yet to mend and do
the right thing.