"OUR LAST PRAYER"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 113, 5 January 1932, Page 5

"OUR LAST PRAYER"

(Press Assn.—

LAST MINUTE EFFORTS TO REACH SETTLEMENT FAIL GANDHI ARRESTED AT HOME

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

Rec. Jan. 4, 11 p.m. CALCUTTA, Monday. Gandhi and Patel, who is president of the Congress, were arrested at Gandhi's Bombay residence and taken to Yeravda gaol, Poona. The arrests were made under the provisional regulation of 1827. After daily prayers at his home last evening, Gandhi ordered the light to be put out, solemnly declaring: "Perhaps this will be our last prayer. We are beginning to struggle for self purification, and if you devote time to prayer, it will give you whatever you desire, both for yourselve's and for the eountry." Gandhi and Patel had proposed to travel to Ahmedabad this morning, but postponed their departure last night for further talks wih prominent European and Indian political leaders and business men, who made dramatic last minute efforts to reach a settlement, and appealed to Gandhi to avoid the Congress. Gandhi, replying to the Viceroy's last message, said he regretted Lord Willingdon's decision not to grant him an interview unless the Congress decisions were withdraw, andadded that time alone would show whose position was justifide. "I wish to assure the Government that every endeavour will be made by Congress to carry on the struggle without malice and in a strictly nonviolent manner," he said.