Page:Mahatma Gandhi, his life, writings and speeches.djvu/356

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M. K. Gandhi

ultimate protection of the Crown to which South Africans as well as ourselves owe submission and allegiance. They as well as we, could have claimed equal rights of entry and residence in any part of the dominions of our common Sovereign as guaranteed to us by solemn, charters. They as well, as we could have knocked at open doors in South Africa as well as Europeans have claimed to knock at open doors in all parts of Asia, indeed everywhere in the world. But so moderate have been Mr. Gandhi and his associates, that they bowed to the unrelenting fates and submitted practically and substantially to abandon all claims to free immigration. All that they asked for was that Indians already settled in South Africa should not be denied the bare rights which the simplest dignity of humanity required for free men and free citizens.

By Mrs. SAROJINI NAIDU

Mrs. Sarojini Naidu has addressed the following letter to Lady Mehta:—

Dear Lady Mehta,—I venture to write to you as I see by the papers that you are the presiding genius of the forthcoming function to welcome my friend Mrs. Gandhi home again. I feel that though it may be the special privilege of the ladies of Bombay to accord her this personal ovation, all Indian women must desire to associate themselves with you in

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