Baldwin, Churchill & Gandhi

There was but one "Indian Round Table Conference" and it was in London (TIME, Nov. 24 to Jan. 26). The recent parleys between Mr. Gandhi and Viceroy Lord Irwin in India (TIME, March 2 et seg.) were not a "round table conference." Therefore some interpretation was necessary in London last week when the Conservative Party Committee on India an- nounced that Conservative Party Leader Stanley Baldwin had decided as follows:

"The party cannot participate in any further round table sessions in India."

Strictly interpreted, this sentence is nonsense. It bears the unmistakable imprint of Mr. Baldwin's loose thought. Being used to the Grand Old Muddler, the entire British press assumed that by "in India" he meant "on India" which would make sense, and mean that the Conservative Party had resolved to have no more truck with half-naked St. Gandhi and his crew.

This is exactly the course which Winston ("Winnie") Churchill, ambitious rival of Mr. Baldwin for leadership, has been urging upon the Party. Headlines blazed "Baldwin Surrenders to Churchill." A new page of British party history seemed about to turn.

Oddly enough, however, Mr. Baldwin had meant by "in" precisely "in," though that was (strictly) nonsense. Not being strict Mr. Baldwin had meant something perfectly sensible, something about like this:

"The Conservative Party cannot participate in any further negotiations on Indian soil, but will participate if another round table conference be held in London."

"I Have Not Surrendered!" That anyone should have misinterpreted his words seemed to Mr. Baldwin willful, diabolic. Like a large, well-meaning cow stung by a hornet, he charged into the House H of Commons, defied Mr. Churchill to wrest the party leadership from him, made a great speech, an English speech, a speech to wring tears from honest eyes.

"If there are those," cried Stanley Baldwin, and looked Winston Churchill in the eye, "if there are those who, if they were in the majority in our party, would approach this question in a niggling, grudging spirit--who would have had forced out of their reluctant hands one concession after another--for God's sake let them choose another man to lead them! But, if they are in a minority, let them refrain from throwing difficulties in the way of those who have undertaken an almost superhuman task on the successful accomplishment of which depends the prosperity of the British Empire."

At this almost the whole House of Commons cheered--Laborites, Liberals and most Conservatives--the basic weakness of Mr. Churchill being apparent.

"I have not surrendered!" cried Mr. Baldwin, turning again upon Mr. Churchill. "I have not surrendered to my Right Honorable Friend!"

Shrill with emotion came the cry of Lady Astor, "God forbid that you should!" (Tears).

Gandhi to London? Last week Prime Minister James Ramsay MacDonald announced that he had hope and reason to believe Mr. Gandhi will come-to London for the second R. T. C. In India during the week, the grotesque little Saint set out on a second "salt march" to the sea (TIME, March 24, 1930).

One year after his original march (the gesture that made him a world figure) St. Gandhi was plodding along again, greeted at village after village with transports of devotion, marching on to make salt again at Dandi.

Under the truce arranged by Mr. Gandhi and Lord Irwin it is now legal for "local residents" and for them only to make salt in India for "home use."

But the Mahatma is not a "local resident" of Dandi. He is out to break the salt law publicly a second time. The first time he did not get away with it. This time he probably will.

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