Now, gentlemen, when things were going on in that way we had another
declaration, a more memorable message from the Prime Minister, in
which the Prime Minister asked our help at the time of a great crisis,
asked us to avert a great danger which threatened England and which
threatened India. Now what did we do under the circumstance? We held
meetings again and we told the Government that at this juncture 'you
must have one united India, you must create an enthusiasm in this
country, real enthusiasm which will lead people to make every sacrifice
for the country and for the empire' and we asked the Government to do
away with the repressive measures, to release the political suspects
and the political prisoners (loud cheers). The whole country regards
that as an oppression. We said to the Government. Do away with that
oppression: Make a definite proposal about self-government and you
will have the whole country with you. You will have hundreds and
thousands of soldiers fighting for you, fighting for India, fighting
for the Empire--you will have the gold of the rich and the copper of
the poor--every sacrifice that may be required of the people will be
willingly, ungrudgingly, cheerfully made for the service of the country
and for upholding the glory of the empire (cheers). How was that
accepted by the bureaucracy? I must confess to a sense of hopelessness
that Government paid not the slightest attention to it. Shortly after
that there was the Conference at Delhi. Let me quote to you the words
of His Excellency the Viceroy, words in which he pictures the great
danger which threatens us:
"Germany has already thrown out into Central Asia her pioneers of
intrigue, her agents of disintegration. The lesson she has learnt from
the Russian Revolution that a stronger weapon than all the armaments
that money can buy or science devise is the disruption of an enemy by
his own internal forces."
Then later on,
"I have spoken of the cause. I have told you of the death-grip on the
western front and have unfolded to you the story of German machinations
in the East."
We were ready to help the Government when we were told that a great
danger threatened the whole of the British Empire and India. That
danger is admitted by His Excellency the Viceroy, it was suggested
by the message of the Prime Minister. It was admitted and if I may
have the impertinence of saying, clearly and eloquently described by
His Excellency the Viceroy. But what about our suggestions? Is it not
a fact that whenever we are anxious to give the bureaucracy in this
country good advice, sane advice, advice which is necessary for the
welfare not only of this country but of England also, the welfare of
the whole empire, that advice is received with scorn and contempt? What
does the Viceroy say? After describing the difficulty which threatens
us, His Excellency says:
"We can, I believe, best do so (help the Amir to keep his ship
straight) by showing our enemies first that India is solid as a rock."
I pause here for a moment. That must be done. It is admitted by His
Excellency the Viceroy that, at this juncture we must do something by
which we can present to the enemy a united India, an India which is
solid as a rock. How does he propose to do that? How can India be solid
as a rock unless she is strong in her rights, how can anybody expect
India to stand solid as a rock unless she has got the elementary rights
of citizenship, unless she can say 'I am one in this world'? (Cheers).
The Viceroy says:--
"We can, I believe, best do so by showing our enemies first that
India is solid as a rock, and that the lambent flame of anarchical
intrigue will find nothing inflammable in this country, nay, rather
will be smothered and extinguished forthwith should it approach, by the
deadweight of our unity of purpose."
Now, gentlemen, so far, there is nothing in the speech of His
Excellency the Viceroy from which we have any reason to differ. But in
the same speech His Excellency disposes of our suggestions in this way:
"But in these days of stress and strain it is idle to ask men to come
together who disagree on first principles."