GANDHI’S CAMPAIGN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 116, 12 April 1930, Page 8

GANDHI’S CAMPAIGN.

Gandhi’s campaign lias not come up to its promoter’s expectations. By manufacturing salt on the sea coast, and thus evading payment of the salt tax which is levied at a rate slightly exceeding a farthing per lb, lie proposed to bring about civil disobedience in the Bombay province, which he evidently hoped would spread to other parts of India and to thus seriously embarrass the Government. In the ultimatum, he addressed to the Viceroy on the 7th of March he intimated his intention of defying the law, if the demands he was making on the Government were not accepted by the 11th of the month. Lord Irwin, in his reply, simply expressed his regret at Gandhi’s proposed action, and the Bombay Government took steps to preserve order along the route of the Indian Mahatma’s projected march to the coast which began on the 12th of March. Gandhi, with less than 100 followers, inaugurated his civil disobedience campaign that day, but had to leave some of his followers behind en route, owing to their developing smallpox. Beaching his objective at Dandi about a fortnight later, he proceeded to gather _ sufficient seawater in pots, which, after evaporation, enabled: him to obtain a ton of salt without paying the tax provided for under the salt laws. But Government employees and a large number of labourers had been before him and, under police protection, had destroyed the salt crystals which he was to have gathered. Then, on the eve of his anticipated triumph, it was announced by the Government authorities that “the salt to be manufactured by Gandhi from natural, deposits contains chemicals which are injurious for human consumption.” Gandhi is reported to have been greatly disappointed that his arrest was not ordered by the authorities, although others engaged in seditious action against the Government have not escaped. All that Gandhi lias succeeded in doing (and he is entitled to such poor satisfaction as he may feel 'in the matter) is in producing 1 “over a ton of salt which is by no means palatable,” and lias been condemned by the Government as “unfit for human consumption.” In the absence of further news, Gandhi’s next move in his civil disobedience campaign will be awaited with interest, but the campaign itself appears to have fallen very flat so far, and the Government is acting wisely in not actively opposing Gandhi in his self-imposed mission, which seems very unlikely to meet with anything * like a tithe of the success he anticipated". .