University of Virginia Library

THE PEACE TERMS

What will Kill Non-co-operation ?—Certainly
violence on the part of non-co-operators.
But that is not what I wanted to answer. What
can the Government do to kill Non-co-operation
?—is the question I have been asked. A
settlement of the Khilafat in accordance with
the Muslim demand, a settlement of the Punjab
in accordance with the Indian demand, and
the grant of Swaraj in accordance with a
scheme to be framed by authorised representatives
of the nation.

What is Swaraj ?—That is the next
question. It is partly answered in the foregoing
paragraph. No one man can produce a
Swaraj scheme because it is not one man's
Swaraj that is wanted nor can a scheme be
framed in advance. What may satisfy the
nation to-day may not satisfy it to-morrow.
Our evolution is and must be an organic
growth. National will is therefore subject to
change from day to-day. But some broad
outlines can certainly be laid down in advance
for any scheme of Swaraj. The nation's representatives

must have full control over
education, law, police and military. We must
have full financial control. And if we are to
be self-governing not a soldier can leave
India without our consent.

What about European Interests?—They
will be as safe in a self-governing India as
they are to-day. But there will be no privileges
of a superior race, no concessions and no
exploitation. English men will live as friends
in every sense of the term but not as rulers.

And the British Connection?—Nobody so
far as I am aware wants to end it for the sake
of ending it. There must be complete independence,
if England's policy is in conflict with
the Muslim sentiment on the Khilafat question
or with the Indian sentiment in the Punjab.
In any case it must be partnership at will,
based upon mutual love and esteem.

Is India Ready for this?—Time will show,
I am convinced that it is. The Swaraj, that
the congress demands is not one that is to be
granted by England. It must be that which
the nation demands and can enforce, in the
same sense that South Africa received it.

Dhoti and Chhadar—Signs of the time
are unmistakable. A councillor in the reformed

council is reported to have appeared in dhoti
and chaddar and insisted upon taking his oath
in Bengali. The councillor deserves congratulations
upon his pluck. It is the most natural
thing for us to appear in our national costume
at all functions. And one may hope that
councillors wherever they can will co-operate
with the nation in spite of their having in
many cases flouted the nation's wish in
insisting upon going to the councils. They
will certainly render a service if they will have
the courage to appear at Council meetings in
Khaddar dress and speak in their vernaculars.
It is easier for the few Englishmen to speak
our vernaculars than for the many of the
nation to speak English.