Evening star., 1942-04-07
By HARRY A. sTANDIsH,


Foreirn Correspondent Of The Star and
North American Newspaper Alliance.
NEW DELHI. April Z (By Wire
less) ).-Mohandas K. Gandhi, at the
age of u. has proved during the
last week that he Is still q powerful
influence in Indian political life, but
he told me sadly Saturday evening
that he had failed to convince even
his close associates on the subject Of
his "anti-all-wars" beliefs.
Although he is not a member OF
the All India Congress Partys Work.
ing Committee or even the party
itself, Gandhi, nevertheless, clearly
has done much by his unsympa-
thetic-if not hostile-attitude to
the present British proposals for
settlement of the India problem to
bring about the stalemate which
more practical India leaders are try
ing to solve.
Since Gandhi came to New Delhi
to confer with the Working Com
mittee of the Congress party he
has refused to grant interviews.
First, I was told that he was OBJ
serving silence, then that he had
appointments every minute Of the
day, which, l understand, is true.
Through the intercession of a friend.
however, I was able to talk to
Gandhi for about 20 minutes as he
was taking his evening walk in the
garden of magnificent Birla House,
where he is the guest of G. G. Birla.
wealthy Indian industrialist and
prominent Congress supporter.
Interview on Foot.
AS I was led into the garden
saw several groups Of white-clad
figures walking on the lawn. A little
apart from his disciples and friends
walked Gandhi. his arms on the
shoulders of two beautiful young
women, one of them his daughter
and the other the daughter of an
old friend. He was barefoot and
dressed In the familiar white cotton
cloth.
When was introduced. one of the
girls moved away so might walk
beside Gandhi and a disciple handed
him a tall, mottled staf1 to replace
the support he had received from
her shoulder. Thus began the
strangely impressive interview. We
walked steadily, even briskly, to
and fro across the lawn with
Gandhi speaking continually, his
o ans voice passionately
charged with conviction but some
times thin and not always firm.
Silent on Cripps Mission.
He talked easily without any need
for questioning about his funda-
mental beliefs on the subject Of
war. We never reached appiica-
ton of those beliefs to the specific
circumstances which face India to-
day. 1t would not be fair to say
he avoided this, though it may have
been so because his history shows
his great political ability. But in
our talk there was no time to work
from the general to the particular
and. in fact, while Gandhi was ex-
pounding felt little desire to do so.
Not every day does one have the
opportunity Of listening to q great
teacher whom tens of thousands
| revere as a saint.
Gandhi refused to talk about the
present negotiations on Sir Stafford
Grips proposals.
II am not here in any official
capacity" he explained THE
Working Committee of the Con-
gress is considering that subject. I
am not q member Of the committee,
or even Of the Congress. am here
to talk things over with these people
who are my friends and associates
OF q lifetime. They are still my
friends although they do not see
eye to eye with me on the subject
Of violence or my anti-all- war
beliefs.
Prays Only for Peace.
That they do not do so is not to
their discredit. Rather, 1t Is my
fault that have failed to con-
vince them. so I try to improve.
For If I have failed to convince
these men who are my friends, how
can I carry conviction to the mil
lions?
This is a terrible time in world
history Gandhi continued. It
pray only for peace. My dream is