Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/220

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130 THB SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN QOKSTION

case which IB so overwhelmingly strong. If a represen- tative like Mr. Sastri is appointed along with Sir Benjamin Robertson to pub before the South African Government and the forGhaomiag Commission the Indian case, it would hd the nexs baab thing. In my opinion our effort should be to ooncanfcrate upon aeour- ing a proper raferenaa bo thj Co noi s-uoa in trie plaoa of the very narrow one, we are led to believe, is likely to be suggested by the Union Government. Tna Times of India is really rendering a great service in moulding and consolidating public opinion on this question, irrespective of olaaa or race, li M no* enough that uajrely the trade qu&atiou is referred to tiha G Jin jaission. The whole of tha Liw 3 of 1885 must oome under review leaving aside for tha time bjiog Dhe q iast.ioa of politioal status. Our goal must be the restoration of full trading and property rights of IridUua Uwfully aebtlei in South Africa. Tnis is what even Australia has allowed although its waa Australia which led the anti- Asiatic cry. We) tnudJ alao gu^rd against tba Oommisaion whititliag down any of thj righ&s already being enjoyed by the settlers. By no o-inoii of juafiioe or propriety can the ex- isting rights be ttakaa a ^ay from the Indian se&tlera, but if we do not taka oare and provide beforehand there is every danger of such a oatasarophe happening. Ib actually happened with the Sjleoi Committed of the U non Parliament] whose iiadiaga produced the uew legislation we so much deplore.

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