Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/578

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488 NON-CO-OPERATION

To restore to Turkey, subject to necessary guarantees, \vhat was hers before war, is a Christian solution. To wrest any of her possessions from her for the sake of punishing her is a gunpowder solution. The Allies or England in the hour of her triumph must be scrupulously just. To reduce the Turks to impotence would be not only unjust, it would be a breach of solemn declarations and promises. It is to be wished that the Viceroy will take his 'courage in both his hands and place himself at the head of the Khilafat agitation a> Lord Hardinge did at the time of the S^uth African " Passive Resistance " struggle and thus like his predecessor give a ciear and emphatic direction to arv agitation which tinder impulsive or faulty leadership may lead to disastrous consequences.

But the situation rests more with> us, Hindus and Mohammedans, than with the Viceroy *nd s ill more with the Moslem leaders than with the Hindus *fcr the Viceroy. J ... i

There are signs already of impatience on the j.an of Muslim friends and impatience may any day be reduced to madness and the latter must .inevitably , lead to violence-. And! wish I could persuade ever>ona ta see that violence rs suicidei , < , ,

' Supposing the Muslim demands are not granted by the Allies or slay England f I see no hing but .hope in M*. Montagu's brave defence of live M u $Um i position and Mi- Lloyd George's interprewioto of his own declaration. True, Xhe latker is bailing but he can' secure full justice under it: But we tnust 1 suppose the worst and expect and strive for* the be^t. ' Hfcw to strive is the question.

What we may not do is clear enough.

(f ) There should be no violence tft thought, speech or deed.

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