SWARAJ AND UNITY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 35, 11 February 1924, Page 6

SWARAJ AND UNITY

The release of Gandhi was interpreted in some quarters in India as an act of clemency which would •possibly lead to a better understanding. Gandhi's first 'public pronouncement after his release does not appear likely to help this feeling. " Without the unity of all the communities all talk of Swaraj was idle," he wrote. He urged the settlement of party quarrels, and declared that Englishmen as well as Indians were friends in the struggle against the system of government. To this little exception may be taken. His appeal for unity especially is commendable. But it is no use all communities uniting to obtain a new system of government unless they can maintain similar unity in administration. It is because there has been no prospect of such unity that the advance towards self-government has been retarded. The British in India have exercised the greatest unifying influence. Without them there would be every possibility of disunion and actual conflict. Gandhi's statement suggests that he is prepared to admit this; but he states at the same time that his belief in. the efficacy of civil disobedience is not weakened. In other words, he perceives the hopelessness of inaugurating a new rule until there is unity, yet he proclaims faith in the practice intended to embarrass the existing government. His conduct resembles that of many other theorising extremists. They would clear the site of the old house before they have bricks, craftsmen, or even a plan for a new building.