GANDHI'S GREAT TASK.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20184, 12 March 1931, Page 9

GANDHI'S GREAT TASK.

CO-ORDINATION OF INDIAN OPINION. ACCEPTABLE CONSTITUTION SOUGHT. lUHITZD paias ASSOCIATION—BT -tLECTBIO TILEOBAPH— COPYEIGHT.) (Received March 11th, 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 11. "Purna Swaraj, or full self-govern-ment, will be achieved if ■ Congress accepts the Constitution drawn up for the next round-table conference," said Gandhi in an interview at Ahmedabad. Gandhi reiterated his pledge not to re- ■ turn to his settlement at Ahmedabad till India had achieved full self-government. . The "Calcutta Statesman" says: "It is no longer a contest between the Government and Congress, but between the Indians themselves. Here Gandhi faces the biggest struggle of his life. His c lef task is to induce the Indian States to accept any other than the London plan, and secondly to bring Hindu and Moslem opinion into such'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." . TOUR OF TRIUMPH. GANDHI VISITS HOME TOWN. (Received March CALCUTTA, March 11. Travelling in an ordinary third-class compartment like a humble coolie, Gandhi, clad in a Khaddar loincloth, had a wonderful reception at his tome town, Ahmedabad, 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 who were on the train were mistaken for Brijtons, and were jeered at and spat upon. CONSERVATIVE LEADER'S DECISION. ATTITUDE TOWARDS CONFERENCE EXPLAINED. (Received March 11th; 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, March 11. It is not unnatural that confusion and controversy have been caused by the announcement of Mr Stanley Baldwin's attitude t towards the proposed reassembling of the Round-Table Con. lerence in India. Mr Baldwin is being accused ot surrendering to Mr Churchill, but the facts are that Mr Baldwin's action was dictated by the disclosures that the Government was prepared for a great conference in India before the points raised at the conference in London had been cleared up. An authoritative statement may lio expected -n the couroe of the India debate on Thursday. , The Conservative spokesman explained t'hat the Party is not opposed in principlo to another conference at a suitable time, but it holds that it is futile to arrange for .another RoundTable Conference ,in India under, the existing conditibns, without adequate enquiries, into ,and the preparation of the many questions left, partially considered from the conference in London. These enquiries should be made quietly and informally beforehand. The Conservatives, therefore, think that the Government's procedure is. wrong. ✓ , - CBHITI9H O?7IC?A£ WtitSXJWfl.) RUGBY, Maroh 10. An authoritative interpretation- of the, announcement that': Mr Stanley Baldwin had decided tliat tbe ConeervativeParty Coiildnot be represented at any further round-table" conference to be held on India, will, it is expected, be given during the India debate in tho House of Commons on Thursday. Meanwhile, it <is stated that the Conservative Leader's intention was to indicate merely that in the view of hia Party the proposal to hold a round-table conference m India in the near future was ■ not the pit* oedure that should be adopted. It is stated that the announcement was not intended in any way as a new declaration' of policy. There was,.no question of withdrawing Conservative co-operation from the general attempt to find an Indian settlement.