CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 118, 18 April 1934, Page 7

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

FALLING-OFF IN INDIA. MANY PRISONERS RELEASED.. BUT NO OPEN DECLARATION. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received April 18, 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, April 17. Evidence of the falling-off of the civil disobedience movement in India was given in the Houso of Commons, when Sir Samuel Hoare (S'eoretary for Lidia) stated that local governments had for the past year been releasing persons convicted of civil disobedience before the expiration of their sentences, when satisfied that the release was not likely to encourage a revival movement. As a result, the number of prisoners, which at the end of April, 1932, was approximately 32,500, had fallen at the end of last month to about 1450, of whom over 600 were in Bombay. Sir Samuel added that this policy would be continued, and if civil disobedience was called off effectively he hoped it would be possible to expedite the releases. Although civil disobedience as an organised effort had ceased to exist, it had not been openly and entirely suspended. The Times points out that this must be done before the Government of India would be in a position to review their future attitude to the Congress. The next move, therefore, rests with the Congress Party. Should it endorse Mr Ghandi’s recommendation to abandon civil disobedience, the decision will foreshadow a return to constitutional methods, which is viewed in political circles as a definite step forward.