CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT, 1942 FAST Newspaper Cuttings Regarding Mr
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203 CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT, 1942 FAST Newspaper cuttings regarding Mr. M. K. Gandhi's fast for 21 days from 10th February to 3rd March 1943. The Bombay Chronicle. 11th February 1943. Must Be Press-Advised. BOMBAY GOVT. ORDER ABOUT PUBLICATION OF GANDHI FAST− NEWS AND COMMENTS The Bombay Government have issued the following orders:— HOME DEPARTMENT. BOMBAY CasTLE, 18TH FEBRUARY 1943—NO. S.D.−111-228.−Whereas the Government of Bombay is satisfied that for the purpose of securing the defence of British India, the public safety, the maintenance of public-order and the efficient prosecution of the war, it is necessary to make the following order: Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of Rule 41 of the Defence of India Rules, the Government of Bombay is pleased to order that— (a)All statements emanating from Mr. M. K. Gandhi or reports of or references to such statements whether direct or indirect and all reports of interviews or conversations with Mr. M. K. Gandhi or persons detained with him or having access to him shall, before being printed or published by any printer, publisher or editor be submitted for scrutiny to the Provincial Press Adviser; (b)No printer, publisher or editor shall print or publish any matter specified above, unless it has been approved by the Provincial Press Adviser as suitable for publication; (c)No printer or publisher shall print or publish in any document other than a newspaper any report or pictorial representation regarding Mr. Gandhi's fast which commenced on or about February 10th, 1943 or any reference lo it whether direct or indirect without the previous approval of the Government of Bombay: Provided that nothing in the above order shall be deemed to apply in respect of any interview conversation or statement which occurred or was issued piror to August 9th 1942 or to any matter contained in a statement issued by the Central Government or by the Government of Bombay. The above order is addressed to printers, publishers and editors generally. By order of the Governor of Bombay, D. SYMINGTON, Secy, to the Govt, of Bombay, HOME DEPARTMENT. 204 Pre-Scrutiny Order. HOME DEPARTMENT. BOMBAY CASILE, 10TH FEBRUARY 1943—NO. S.D.-III-227.--Whereas the Government of Bombay is satisfied that for the purpose of securing the defence of British India, the public safety, the maintenance of public order and the efficient prosecution of war, it is necessary to make the following order: Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of rule 41 of the Defence of India Rules the Government of Bombay is pleased to order that—(1) all reports or pictorial representations regarding the fast which was commenced by Mr. M. K. Gandhi on or about February 10th, 1943 and all reference to it whether direct or indirect shall before being printed or published by any printer, publisher or editor be submitted for scrutiny in the City of Bombay to the Special Press Adviser and elsewhere to the District Press Adviser; and (2) no printer, publisher or editor shall print or publish any matter specified above, unless it has been approved by the authority specified in clause (1) as suitable for publication. 2. The above order is addressed to printers, publishers and editors generally except those specified in the schedule to this order. Provided that, nothing in this order applies to any matter which has been passed for publication by the Chief Press Adviser in India. By order of the Governor of Bombay, D. SYMINGTON. Secy, to the Govt. of Bombay. HOME DEPARTMENT. Times of India. 12th February 1943. MR. GANDHI'S MOVE "TO THE DETENTION". LONDON, FEBRUARY, 11.—Newspapers today deduce from the correspondence between the Viceroy and Mr. Gandhi that the purpose of Mr. Gandhi's fast is to compel the Government of India to end his detention. The Times says: " No one will suggest that Mr. Gandhi devised or desired the outrages that followed his campaign of civil disobedience, or the carefully planned attack on the communications of the forces defending Eastern India against the Japanese, but they resulted from his policy as inevitably as night follows day, and Government were driven back on the negative but inescapable policy of arrest and resistance". “No one". The Times adds," can be satisfied with die condition of Indian affairs, but those who are the least satisfied will most deplore Mr. Gandhi's decision. As an assertion of personal authority it is to say the least of it, superfluous. Mr. Gandhi has rendered unique service to 205 his country as promoter of national consciousness. He has failed wholly, however, to win the confidence of millions who do not accept his political leadership and to make his contribution to a fundamental agreement, without which no free constitution can exist and which no power can impose on India from without. "His present move promises less than nothing towards that end. Its only fruit can be deeper dissension and possibly fresh disorder. Nor can the error of British policy in the past be a stumbling block now. Even while the shadow of war lies across India the way of discussion is wide open. The British pledge of all aid to the attainment of unconditional freedom stands and will be honoured. It has the guarantee of national ratification ". Times of India. 12th February 1943. VISITORS TO MR. GANDHI NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY, 11.−Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas and Seth Ghanshyamdas Birla, who are in Delhi, had talks on Wednesday, with some Indian Members of the Govenor-General's Executive Council on the situation arising from Mr. Gandhi's fast. It is likely that Mr. G. L. Mehta, President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry will address a letter to the Government of India on behalf of the Federation urging unconditional release of Mr. Gandhi. In connection with the visits of friends to Mr. Gandhi during the fast. it is stated here that only those whom he expresses a desire to see will be permitted to do so. An appeal in the Viceroy to release Mr. Gandhi so that beginning at least may be made in the way of removing the deadlock which has been a heavy deadweight on the country during the last six months is made in a telegram to the Viceroy by the Committee of the Indian Merchants Chamber, Bombay. Times of India. 12th February 1943. COMMONS QUESTION ON MR. GANDHI LONDON, FEBRUARY, 11.- Mr. Gandhi was in his normal state of health when he decided yesterday to undertake a limited fast, the Secretary of State for India. Mr. Amery, told the House of Commons today. Mr. Amery was answering a question concerning the health of Pandit Nehru, his daughter and Mr. Gandhi. He added he had no recent reports about the health of Pandit Nehru and his daughter, but would have been informed if it had deteriorated. Asked by Mr. Sorensen (Labour) if he could make a statement regarding Mr. Gandhi's fast and the correspondence which had passed between Mr. Gandhi and the Viceroy. Mr. Amery said: "A very full statement on the subject and the whole of the correspondence have been published 206 by the Government of India. These have been reproduced in the press and copies are available in the library of the House of Commons." —Reuter. Doctors Examine Mr. Gandhi. POONA.—Lt.-Col. M. G. Bhandari, I.M.S., Inspector-General of Prisons and Lt.-Col. B. Z. Shah, I.M.S., are understood to have visited Mr. Gandhi, this morning and examined him on the second day of his fast. Mr. Gandhi was well and cheerful till he retired to bed last night. In response to a request from Dr. Nayar, conveyed to the Government of Bombay by Mr. Gandhi, for additional medical assistance during the period of Mr. Gandhi's fast, Dr. Gilder was transferred on Thursday morning to Mr. Gandhi's place of detention, states a press note from the Director of Information, Bombay. PROF. BHANSALI FASTS AGAIN WARDHA.- On hearing about Mr. Gandhi's fast, Prof. Bhansali commenced another fast at noon on Thursday. Mr. Bhansali had been progressing satisfactorily since he terminated his 63 days' fast on January 12. Times of India. 13th February 1943. Indian Leaders to Confer. MR. GANDHI'S FAST NEW DELHI. FEBRUARY, 12.—About 150 Indian leaders are expected to attend a conference which has been called to meet here on February 18, to consider the situation arising from Mr. Gandhi's fast. The decision to hold the conference was reached at an informal meeting of some members of the Central Legislature and others held this afternoon at the residence of Pandit Hridaynath Kunzru, whereafter the following statement was issued by Mr. Munshi:— " In response to a general desire to consider the situation which has arisen on account of Mr. Gandhi's fast, it was decided to call a conference of leading persons to meet here on February 18. Signatories to the invitation for the conference include Mr. C. Rajagopalachari, Mr. K. M. Munshi, Mr. K. Srinivasan, Mr. N. M. Joshi. Mr. G. L. Mehta, Dr. Bannerji, Pandit Kunzru, Messrs. Kazmi, Abdur Rashid Chawdhury and Sir A. H. Ghuznavi". About 150 leading persons from all shades of public opinion are being invited,, including Mr. Jinnah, the Right Hon. Srinivasa Sastri, the Right Hon. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, Pandit Malaviya, the Metropolitan of India, Mr. Arthur Moore, Mr. Fazlul Haq, Mr. G. D. Birla, Sir Shriram, Dr. Khare, the Rt. Hon. M. R. Jayakar, Dr. Moonje, Mr. Savarkar, Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas, Sir A.