Page:The Pilgrims' March.djvu/142

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MAHATMAJI'S VIEWS ON ROUND-TABLE CONFERENCE

DOUBTS SUCCESS OF THE CONFERENCE

“I have set forth my views in the forth-coming issue of the “Young India” but I may briefly state that the idea of the conference between persons belonging to different parties for the purpose of exchanging views or joint action is always welcome to me as it tends, if it does nothing else, to remove cobwebs and to promote mutual confidence. But I doubt the success of the conference that might be called by the Government unless the Government changes its attitude about the fundamental grievances which have brought about the crisis and unless the Government is prepared to yield to the express wish of the people. In my opinion repression is doing a world of good. It is opening the eyes of everybody and enabling everybody to see the Government in its true light. No conference convened by the Government can be successful unless it has satisfied itself that a large number of earnest men and women are ready to suffer every form of hardship without retaliation for the purpose of gaining a just end.