INDIAN PROBLEM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 128, 12 March 1931, Page 5

INDIAN PROBLEM

GANDHI’S TOUR OF TRIUMPH. WELCOME AT HIS HOME TOWN. IDOLISING FOLLOWERS. (United Press Association —Copyright). CALCUTTA, March 11. Travelling in an ordinary third-class compartment like a humble coolie, Mahatma Gandhi, clad in a Jvhaddar loincloth, had a wonderful reception at his homo town, Alimedabad, after a year of eventful happenings. At almost every station en route hundreds of idolising followers struggled frantically to gain places on the footboard of the train. American journalists w*ho were on the train were mistaken for Britons, and were jeered at and spat upon, ' THE MAHATMA’S GREAT TASK.’ CO-ORDINATION OF NATIVE OPINION. • i ■ LONDON, March* 13-. **•'•• “Purna Swaraj, or full self-govem- ' ment, will be achieved if Congress accepts the Constitution drawn up for* the next round-table conference,” said Gandhi in an interview at Alimedabad; Gandhi reiterated his pledge not to return to his settlement at Alimedabad till India, had achieved: full self-govern-ment. 'j The “Calcutta Statesman” says;: “It is no longer a contest between the Government and Congress, but between; the Indians themselves. ' Here Gandlii faces the biggest struggle of his life. His chief task is to induce the Indian Statbs to accept any other than the. London plan, and secondly to bring Hindu and Moslem, opinion into suc4u co-ordination as will enable* any kind of Constitution to be framed and. accepted by both. Neither the' Indian nor* the British Governments can give any help.” ....

MR BALDWIN’S DECISION, HIS ATTITUDE EXPLAINED. ••' ‘ . i.. LONDON, March 11. It is not unnatural that confusion and controversy have been caused liy the announcement of Mr Stanley Baldwin’s attitude toward the proposal reassembling of the Round-Table Conference in India. Mr Baldwin is being accused of surrendering to* Mr Churchill, but the facts are that Air Baldwin’s action was dictated by the disclosures that the Government was pve-. pared for a great conference in India before the points raised at the confer.-, ence in London had been cleared up. An authoritative statement may, be expected in the course of the India debate" on Thursday. . The Conservative spokesman explained that the party is not opposed in principle to another conference at a suitable time, but it holds that it is futile to arrange for another Round-. Table Conference in India under the existing conditions, without, adequate, inquiries into and the preparation of* the many questions left partially considered from the conference in London. These inquiries should be made quietly, and informally beforehand. The Com;; servatives, therefore, think that tho Government’s procedure is wrong.