FAST MUST END

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1943, Page 3

FAST MUST END

TO SAVE GANDHI’S LIFE LATEST BULLETIN, APPEAL TO MR CHURCHILL FOR RELEASE. LONDON, February 21. Today’s bulletin regarding Gandhi’s condition states that if the fast is not ended without delay it may be too late to save his life. The bulletin adds that Gandhi had a bad day yesterday, with only 4ihours’ sleep last night. During the day he was apathetic. His heart sounds weak and the volume of his pulse small. He is extremely weak: even swallowing water exhausts him. Gandhi has lost 191bs up to February 19. At present he is too weak to be weighed. The National Committee of the Commonwealth in London passed a resolution: “That the moral repercussions resulting from Gandhi’s death would irreparably destroy our claim that we are fighting for justice and humanity. The bankruptcy of the Government policy towards India is building up a situation where the massacre of British troops in India becomes more probable monthly.” At a meeting of political leaders in New Delhi, it was decided to cable to Mr Churchill asking for Gandhi’s unconditional release. VERY GRAVE CONDITION MUCH WORSE. UNITED STATES SHOW CONCERN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 20. Mahatma Gandhi’s condition today, the tenth day of the fast, has changed considerably for the worse, and it is now very grave. Mr Gandhi yesterday told friends that he did not want to die, but was prepared to. Mr Gandhi’s son Devadas and other members of the Mahatma’s family have arrived at Poona and are staying at his bedside. Devadas, telephoning to the “Hindustan Times,” said: “The devoted doctors have done all they can do for the Mahatma. The only physician who can heal him is Lord Linlithgow.” A Washington message says that the State Secretary, Mr Hull, conferred with Lord Halifax and expressed American concern over the situation in India. Correspondents were given to understand that the conference did not mean American intervention in the Indian situation. New Delhi reports that the prominent Indian Liberal, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, presiding at a conference of Indian political leaders, said: “We have done the best we can to save Gandhi’s life in the hope and belief that if he were released he would undertake the task of reconciliation. I ask on behalf of the whole country that Gandhi should be released before it is too late. “Here is a man, whose appeal to Indians is undoubted, going to end his life. If that should happen, then the task of reconciliation between Britain and the Hindus —even the whole of the Indian nation —will be extremely difficult.” The conference decided to send to Messrs Churchill and Amery and President Roosevelt a resolution demanding the immediate unconditional release of Mr Gandhi. The Viceroy’s secretary has sent a letter to Sir Tej Sapru pointing out that the Government’s attitude was clearly detailed in the communique of February 10, in which it stated that the responsibility for Mr Gandhi’s fast rested solely with Mr Gandhi, and a decision to end it must rest with him. Mr Savarkar, at Bombay, has suggested a national appeal to Mr Gandhi to break his fast, as being likely to prove more effective than any other to save his life. He added: “We have tried our best to persuade the Government to spare Gandhi’s life. It is no use now hoping that the human or moral appeal of the fast will bring about any change of heart on the part of the Government.” A drafting committee of Indian political leaders at a conference in New Delhi yesterday passed a resolution urging Mr Gandhi’s release. The resolution was immediately handed to the Viceroy’s private secretary, because “of the urgency of the situation.” It was reported yesterday that Gandhi’s strength was rapidly failing. He was so weak that he must be lifted daily in and out of his bath. One of his visitors remarked that he was “a little ball of bone and muscle.” Dr. C. B. Rey, one of the medical attendants, asked friends not to attempt to see Gandhi because of the strain involved. Gandhi spends the day lying quietly almost without speaking, under the constant care of his wife and his disciple, Mrs Naidu. ' After the afternoon examination yesterday, Dr. Roy said: “It will be a miracle if Gandhi survives his fast, but of course his constitution is capable of such a miracle.”