BRITAIN DEFIED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 879, 24 January 1930, Page 9

BRITAIN DEFIED

GHANDTS DEMAND FOR COMPLETE SECESSION INDIANS BOYCOTT INDUSTRY . LONDON, Thursday. Mohandas Ghandi, leader of the extreme Nationalists in India, declared his defiance of British power in an exclusive interview with Mr. C. J. Ketchum, special correspondent of the “Daily Express.” Ghandi sat working at a spinningwheel while he talked. He said a trial of strength was at hand, and events would entirely depend upon the British Government. “We will not participate in any conference now or in the future unless it be one called to consider our complete secession from Great Britain,” said the Nationalist leader. “The day has passed when we can accept anything less. “You will find millions Qi our men and women in their cottages spinning hour after hour. This means a boycott throughout the nation of foreignspun cloths. It must eventually mean the end of British predominance in the industry which is the chief reason for the presence of your troops.’’ The correspondent says he left Gandhi still spinning. Squatting oil the sand beside him was the famous Miss Madeline Slade, daughter of the late Admiral Slade. Four and a-half years ago she abandoned society and went to India to embrace Hinduism. Now Miss Slade goes barefooted and wears a plain Indian sari. She accompanies Ghandi everywhere he ‘goes.

With a splendid record behind him Mohandas Karamcliano Ghandi returned to India, from London in 1914 to become, by the force' of fanatical idealism, the leader of the movement for non-co-operation and the granting of “Swaraj,” home rule. He himself preached non-resistance and pacifism, but did not always restrain liis followers, and in 1922 he was arrested, and sentenced to imprisonment for six years. He was released in 1924.

When the Indian Commission was set up in 1927 Ghandi announced himself as in favour of boycotting it, and this was supported by the Indian National Congress. Ghandi himself is courteous and suave, and is regarded by his followers as a saint. Part of his policy is a tariff on foreign cloth and the weaving and wearing of “khaddar,” homespun cloth, by his followers, and the encouragement of this as a native industry.