1. Circular for Meeting at House of Commons1
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1. CIRCULAR FOR MEETING AT HOUSE OF COMMONS1 HOUSE OF COMMONS, November 5, 1906 DEAR SIR, A meeting of the Liberal, Labour and Nationalist Members of this House will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday next, the 7th inst. in the Grand Committee Room, to hear the British Indian Deputation that has arrived from the Transvaal, in connection with the Ordinance passed by the Legislative Council of that Colony, termed the Asiatic Law Amendment Ordinance, and to pass a resolution. In the opinion of the Delegates, the Ordinance reduces the British Indian settlers of the Transvaal to a position much worse than they occupied under the Boer regime and even than that of the Kaffirs. They contend that the Ordinance in question is in contravention of promises repeatedly made by British Ministers and in conflict with British traditions. The undersigned trust that you will be good enough to attend the meeting. We are, Yours faithfully, HENRY COTTON R. LEHMANN H. COX J. M. ROBERTSON CHARLES W. DILKE A. H. SCOTT CHARLES SWANN2 J. WARD From a photostat of the typewritten office copy: S. N. 4482 1 This was drafted by Gandhiji; vide “Letter to Sir Charles Schwann”, 7-11-1906. 2 Schwann; vide “ Letter to Sir Charles Schwann,”, 7-11-1906. VOL. 6 : 5 NOVEMBER, 1906 - 12 JUNE, 1907 1 2. LETTER TO J. KITCHIN HOTEL CECIL, LONDON, W. C., November 5, 1906 DEAR SIR, Your brother and my friend, Mr. H. Kitchin, has written to me sending your address. He is anxious, and so am I, that I should make your acquaintance during my brief stay in London, and I shall thank you if you will kindly make an appointment. I shall be exceedingly busy this week with reference to the Deputation that is to wait upon Lord Elgin. Will you therefore kindly make an appointment for some time next week? Yours truly, JOSEPH KITCHIN, ESQ. “INGLENOOK” BRACKLEY ROAD BECKENHAM From the typewritten office copy: S. N. 4484 3. LETTER TO AMEER ALI [HOTEL CECIL, LONDON,] November 5, 1906 DEAR SIR, I have your note of the 3rd instant. Mr. Ally I expect here today from Bromley, and he and I will be pleased to wait on you at the Reform Club to-morrow at 4 p.m. I am, Yours faithfully, AMEER ALI, ESQ., C.I.E. THE LAMBDENS BEENHAM NEAR READING From the typewritten office copy: S.N. 4485 2 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI 4. LETTER TO G. J. ADAM [HOTEL CECIL, LONDON,] November 5, 1906 DEAR SIR, With reference to your enquiry, the Deputation will be received by Lord Elgin at 3 p.m. next Thursday. Yours faithfully, G. J. ADAM, ESQ. 24, OLD JEWRY LONDON From the typewritten office copy: S.N. 4486 5. LETTER TO G. WALPOLE [HOTEL CECIL, LONDON,] November 5, 1906 DEAR SIR, I have your letter of the 3rd inst. for which I thank you. I shall not need your services with regard to the Deputation as I have permanently engaged the services of an expert shorthand writer. Yours faithfully, GEORGE WALPOLE, ESQ. 1, NEW COURT LINCOLN’S INN From the typewritten office copy: S.N. 4487 VOL. 6 : 5 NOVEMBER, 1906 - 12 JUNE, 1907 3 6. LETTER TO SISTER IN CHARGE, ST. EDMUND'S [HOTEL CECIL, LONDON,] November 5, 1906 TO THE SISTER IN CHARGE ST. EDMUND’S “BROADSTAIRS” DEAR MADAM, Dr. Josiah Oldfield and I are old friends. The Doctor has just seen a friend of mine, Mr. Suleman Manga, whose case in the opinion of Dr. Oldfield calls for a change and rest for a week or two at your Convalescent Home. Would you kindly inform Mr. Manga by telegram whether you have accommodation for him, also your charges per week. Mr. Manga’s address is: 106, Baron’s Court Road, W. Kindly send Mr. Manga the telegram early tomorrow morning. I am, Yours faithfully, From the typewritten office copy: S. N. 4488 7. LETTER TO EDITOR, ''THE TIMES" [HOTEL CECIL, LONDON,] November 5, 1906 TO THE EDITOR THE TIMES PRINTING HOUSE SQUARE, E.C. DEAR SIR, I beg to enclose herewith for your information [and] publication the signed letter1 addressed by some of the Members of 1 “Circular for Meeting at House of Commons”, 5-11-1906. 4 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI the House of Commons. I remain, Yours faithfully, [Enclosure] From the typewritten office copy: S. N. 4489 8. LETTER TO G. J. ADAM [HOTEL CECIL, LONDON,] November 5, 1906 DEAR MR. ADAM, I enclose herewith for your information the circular letter addressed by some of the Members of the House of Commons. Perhaps you will be so kind as to furnish the Press with information. I remain, Yours faithfully, [Enclosure] G. J. ADAM, ESQ. 24, OLD JEWRY LONDON, E.C. From the typewritten office copy: S.N. 4490 VOL. 6 : 5 NOVEMBER, 1906 - 12 JUNE, 1907 5 9. LETTER TO LORD ELGIN1 22, KENNINGTON ROAD, LAMBETH, November 5, 1906 TO THE RIGHT HON’BLE THE EARL OF ELGIN HIS MAJESTY’S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES COLONIAL OFFICE LONDON MY LORD, I beg to draw your attention to the copy of Indian Opinion for the 13th of October, herewith enclosed. It contains the leading article “The Thin End”, about which I have already had the honour to write to you, also a report of the case of Mahomed Hafejee Moosa on page 745 entitled “War on Infants”. I venture to think that the report brings into prominent relief the difficulties of British Indians (even infants) in the Transvaal. I beg to remain, Your Lordship’s obedient servant [Enclosure] From the typewritten office copy: S. N. 4483, 10. LETTER TO A. CARTWRIGHT [HOTEL CECIL, LONDON,] November 5, 1906 DEAR SIR, I am much obliged to you for your letter of the 5th instant. I enclose herewith the Representation submitted to Lord Elgin, and also a circular letter addressed to the Liberal and other Members 1 The address at the top would suggest that the letter was from Dadabhai Naoroji, but this copy was found among Gandhiji's papers. Gandhiji's letter to him dated November 17 (vide “Letter to Dadabhai Naoroji”, 17-11-1906) shows that, during the Deputation's stay in England, Mr. Naoroji sent all papers received from South Africa to Gandhiji who returned them offering comment and explanation and sometimes suggesting courses of action. It is thus very likely that Gandhiji drafted the letter because of his ready familiarity with the South African situation. 6 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI of the House of Commons who are taking active interest in the question of the status of British Indians in the Transvaal in the light of the Asiatic Law Amendment Ordinance. You may have seen that Lord Elgin receives the Deputation on Thursday next at 3 o’clock. I also enclose a copy of the Representation1 made to Lord Elgin by five young Indians from South Africa who are studying either for the Bar or for the medical profession. Your letter encourages me [to] seek your personal acquaintance. May I ask you to give me an interview some time after next Thursday, and if it is convenient to you, we might lunch together at the Hotel and talk over the matter that has brought Mr. Ally and myself to London. I am, Yours faithfully, [3 enclosures] ALBERT CARTWRIGHT, ESQ. 62, LONDON WALL, E.C. From a photostat of the type written office copy: S. N. 4491 11. LETTER TO F. H. BROWN [HOTEL CECIL, LONDON,] November 6, 1906 DEAR MR. BROWN, I thank you for your letter of the 5th instant. I send you the last two copies of Indian Opinion, which will give you some more information about the Ordinance, and also on the general movements of the Indian community in South Africa. You will also see that the last number contains photographs of the Delegates. It was very kind of you to introduce Mr. Ritch and me to Sir Curzon Wyllie2, though at the time you introduced us I did not know that Sir Curzon was the Political A.D.C. to Mr. Morley. 1 Vide “Representation to Lord Elgin”, 3-11-1906. 2 Assassinated in July 1909 by an Indian terrorist at the Imperial Institute in London VOL. 6 : 5 NOVEMBER, 1906 - 12 JUNE, 1907 7 I have shown your letter to Mr. Ritch, who will let you have a copy of his paper1 some time previous to the Friday preceding the date of its delivery. Enclosed you will find a complete list of the members of the deputation. Yours truly, 3 enclosures F. H. BROWN, ESQ. “DILKUSHA” WESTBOURNE ROAD FOREST HILL, S.E. From a photostat of the typewritten office copy: S.N. 4492 12. LETTER TO SIR CHARLES DILKE [HOTEL CECIL, LONDON,] November 6, 1906 DEAR SIR, I am extremely obliged to you for your letter of the 5th instant. As suggested therein, I will not make use of the letter2 before Lord Elgin. I beg to remain. Yours faithfully THE RIGHT HON’BLE SIR CHARLES DILKE, BART., M.P. 76, SLOANE STREET, W. From a photostat of the typewritten office copy: S. N. 4493 1 Vide “Ritch's Speech at East India Association”, before 18-12-1906. 2 The letter of sympathy, mentioned in “Letter Sir Charles Dilke”, 3-11-1906. 8 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI 13. LETTER TO MESSRS A. BONNER [HOTEL CECIL. LONDON,] November 6, 1906 MESSRS A. BONNER PRINTERS I & 2, TOOK’S COURT, E.C. DEAR SIRS, I have your letter. I now enclose further cheque for One Pound and your amended bill, which please return duly discharged.