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What steps have the Indian Congress taken with regard to this Colonial agitation?
- So far as I know, the Congress have taken no steps whatever.
What is your plan of campaign?
- My plan of campaign now is, if I am allowed time, to show that there is no conflict of interest between the two countries; that the attitude taken up by the Colony at present is indefensible on every ground; and to justify what I have done in the eyes of the Colonists for the sake of the case in which I am interested. Of course, we should resist the passing of any laws to restrict the freedom of Indians entering the Colony. I would naturally expect to have the full support of the Indian Government on that. There is absolutely no danger of the Colony getting swamped. The Courland, on one of her voyages, took back as many as a hundred new arrivals, and I, therefore, submit that the leaders should make sure of their facts before they put a drastic policy before the Colony. The free Indian population really remains stationary. The law of supply and demand regulates the inflow and outflow of passengers.
- Mr. Gandhi requested the reporter to convey to the editor of the Advertiser his best thanks for allowing him to ventilate his views.
In taking leave of Mr. Gandhi, the reporter laid stress on the very strong feeling against him at present in Durban, and advised him, for his own sake, to be exceedingly careful in regard to disembarking, since he was determined to land.
The Natal Advertiser, 14-1-1897
- 1↑ Although the s.s. Courland, in which Gandhiji travelled, had reached the Durban harbour on December 18, 1896, the ship was placed under extended quarantine, along with another passenger ship the Naderi, ostensibly on the ground that Bombay was infested with plague. The interview took place, Gandhiji says "on the day of the landing, as soon as the yellow flag was lowered" (vide “An Autobiography- Part III, Chapter III”.) and according to The Natal Advertiser, 14-1-1897, which said it took place "yesterday morning", it would be on 13-1-1897.
- 2↑ Committee constituted by the Europeans to organize a demonstration at the harbour against the disembarkation of the Indian passengers
- 3↑ The reference is to free Indians—traders and artisans—as distinguished from indentured labourers whose immigration was permitted.
- 4↑ South African Indians had, in fact, petitioned both the Imperial and the Indian Governments to disallow further emigration if certain restrictions imposed on indentured labourers on the expiry of their indenture were not removed. Vide “Memorial to J. Chamberlain”, 11-8-1895 and “Memorial to Lord Elgin”, 11-8-1895.
- 5↑ The Green Pamphlet
- 6↑ The agitation against the legislation which sought to enforce the Indians to live and trade in specified locations; vide, “Petitition to Lord Ripon”, Before 5-5-1895 and “Petition to Lord Elgin”, Before 5-5-1895.
- 7↑ The Calcutta public meeting which Gandhiji was to have addressed (vide “Letter to F. S. Taleyarkhan”, November 5, 1896.) had to be cancelled as he had to leave urgently for South Africa (vide ”Letter to The Englishman”, 13-1-1896). Perhaps, Gandhiji was alluding to a meeting of the Committee of the British India Association in Calcutta which he addressed and which decided to submit to the Secretary of State for India a memorial in regard to the position of the South African Indians.
- 8↑ Vide “Open Letter”, Before 19-12-1894.
- 9↑ Vide “London Diary”, 12-11-1888.
- 10↑ Vide "Memorial to Secretary of State for the Colonies", 15-3-1897.
- 11↑ ibid
- 12↑ Vide "Memorial to Secretary of State for the Colonies", 15-3-1897.
- 13↑ Vide “Letter to F. S. Taleyarkhan”, 10-10-1896, “Letter to F. S. Taleyarkhan”, 18-10-1896, and “Letter to F. S. Taleyarkhan”, 5-11-1896.
- 14↑ Vide "Memorial to Secretary of State for the Colonies", 15-3-1897.
- 15↑ An association formed by Durban Europeans in November 1896 to resist immigration of free Indians; vide "Memorial to Secretary of State for the Colonies", 15-3-1897.
- 16↑ The reference is to the Natal Indian Congress
Letter to Attorney-General (20-1-1897)
BEACH GROVE, DURBAN,
January 20, 1897
TO
THE HONOURABLE HARRY ESCOMBE
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
PIETERMARITZBURG
SIR,
I beg to thank you and the Government for the kind enquiries made about me and the kindness shown to
