Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/736

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646 NON-CO-OPERATION

tionally retrace its steps, cancel the notifications about disbandtnent of volunteer organisations and prohibition of public meetings and release all those men in the- different provinces who have been arrested and senten- ced for so-called Civil Disobedience or for any other purpose given under the definition of non-co-operation but excluding acts of violence, actual or intended. Let the Government come down with a heavy hand orv every act of violence or incitement to it, but we must claim the right for all time of expressing our opinions freely and educating public opinion by every legitimate and non-violent means. It is therefore the Government who have really to undo the grave wrong they have perpetrated and they can have the conference they wish in a favourable atmosphere. Let me also say that so far as I am concerned, I want no conference to consider the ways and means of dealing with non-co-operation. The only conference that can at all avail at this stage is a conference called to deal with the causes of the- wrongs and Swaraj. Any conference again which can- usefully sit at the present stage must be a conference that is really representative and not a conference ta which only those whom the Government desire are invited.

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