GANDHI IN LONDON

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1931, Page 2

GANDHI IN LONDON

MEETS PRIME MINISTER, [United Press Association.—By Electm Telegraph—Copyright], t> ■ - LONDON, September 13. Mr Gandhi, -the Leader of the National Congress of 'lndia, r who is to take part in the India Round-Table Conference at London, has arrived, in London and is staying in the East End. PUBLIC INTEREST IN GANDHI. i LONDON, September 13. Mr Gandhi’s arrival has caused amazing interest in the East End. Thousands were gathered m the neighbourhood of where lie stayed all day. MORE DELEGATES ARRIVE.

LONDON, September 13. Seven more Indian delegates for’ the Round-Table Conference arrived in London to-day, including Mr Gandhi. The others arriving include Pandit Malavia, Mrs Naida, the Indian poetess, the Naub of Buripal, who is Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes, and Ra-jah of Kora, Sir Prabasluandar Pattani and Matilana Shnukat All,’the brother of Ma-ulaua- Muhammad AH. whole death occurred in London during the previous session of the RoundTable Conference.

In addition to those delegates, near, ly 30 others are already in London. There will be' a meeting- of the Federal Structure Committee on Monday .

“THE TIMES” COMMENTS

DICTATORIAL TONE

LONDON, September 13

Referring to the arrival of Mr Gandhi, “The Times’' says:—“The inclusion- for the first time of the Indian Leader robs the critics of the Round-Table Conference of their chief complaint, that the strongest section of the Indian politicians have stood aloof. The discussions will now be incQmparably mpre representative than heretofore and',Mr Gandhi’s presence inEngland, s||ie will use it to the best- advantage;’of his country, should greatly* •* facilitate a mutual understanding of Indian aspirations and British responsibilities.”, ; ‘‘The Times” emphasises, however,’ that Mr ' Gandhi is in no sense, a plenipotentiary from India. It says: “He has failed to bring with him any solution of the profound communal controversy, which is one of the most obstinate barriers to an Indian settlement. He comes, in fact, as the representative, not of India as a whole, but of a powerful and widely-extend-ed political organisationn that is noE easily to be controlled by any leader, but, which for the moment, is owning deep alliance to himself, and he comes to take lilb share in practical discussions, which already have made considerable progress, and he does not come ,to re-open problems.

GANDHI ON THE AIR. LONDON, September 13. Air Gandhi kept the United States waiting for ten minutes, .while he finished a frugal meal at the East End of London to-night. When he was informed that America was waiting to hear him broadcast, he continued eating.

When he finally approached the microphone, Mr Gandhi spoke in faultless English for thirty minutes.

GANDHI’S ATTITUDE.

WHAT ABOUT INDIA’S TERMS

•LONDON, September 13

Mr Gandhi, late last night, had a conference with Mr Ramsay MacDonald at the Dorchester Hotel in the rooms of Sir Bahadur Sapree. It is understood that Mr Gandhi intimated to the Prime .Minister that, if the Government were prepared to discuss the matters of principle laid down, at the Karachi Indian National Congress he wonld be prepared for negotiations, but, that otherwise, no purpose would be served by any further discussion. It is understood, that the Moslem delegates are preturbed that Mr MacDonald should have met Air Gandhi on neutral ground, instead of at Downing Street

There was the greatest secrecy regarding the meeting of Mr Gandhi and Mr MacDonald, though' ’’‘the latter only remained for twenty minutes. Lord Sankev, however, had a conference for over an hour with Mr Gandhi, then lie went for a brisk walk in Saint James’s Park, returning home after midnight..