Simla, Aug. 19.
Despite the Congress decision last week that Mr. Gandhi should not attend the Round-Table Conferlence in London, hopes have hitherto] been entertained that it might be found possible to devise means of securing reconsideration of the decision.
These hopes, however, are now! regarded as having been extinguished by the action of Mr. Gandhi in unexpectedly publishing a lengthy document designated as a charge sheet", specifying various} Jalleged breaches of the Irwin: [Gandhi Pact by the Government.
This course, coupled with the letter which Bir. Gandhi sent to the Viceroy, Lord Willingdon, asking if the Government of India intends to continue to observe the Pact, is regarded as definitely closing the Jdeor to further negotiations.
Tt is stated that the Government Proposes to publish a counter-document dealing with the obser-Vance of the Pact on the part of the Congress, and declaring th while intending to adhere to the Pact, it is prepared to take up Mr. Gandhi's challenge and deal with any recrudescence of the obedience movement.
The Viceroy, Lord Willingdon, has suddenly decided to return to Simla {from Ranchi, in Bengal, to consider hhis reply to the allegations made recently by Mr. Gandhi, the Nationalist leader, that there have been serious breaches by the Government jof the Irwin-Gandhi Agreement, particularly in regard to the coercive collection of rents.
It is understood that Lord Willing don's reply will take the form of scathing indictment of the "dupli: ity" of the Indi proposed London as a delegate to the Indian Round-Table Conference is now re garded as impossible—Reuter, London, Aug. 20.
That Burma should be separated from India and should receive an independent status with a system! lof Government adjusted to its jai conditions was one of the salient recommendations of the. Simon report and unlike so many lof the suggestions put forward by this already academic document it ig to be implemented without delay The recommendation of Sir John Simon was endorsed at the Round-Table Conference in London and Simla, Aug. 2f.
A letter from the Viceroy, replying to Mr, Gandhi's "Charge sheet," denies Mfr. Gandhi's allege tion of breaches of the" Lrwin-Gandhi pact on the part of the Government.
'The Viceroy contends' that the of Congress in many) directions have been contrary both to the spirit and letter of the settlement and involved a constant menace to the maintenance of peace Continuing, the Viceroy argues that it is a complete misreading of the situation to suggest there has been. either absence of goodwill on the part of local Governments in working the settlement or any design to crush Congress workers, India, says the Viceroy, to restrict their' action to the requirements of any special situation' and to avoid special measures far as possible, As regards Mr. Gandhi's demand for an arbitration tribunal, the Viceroy declared that the Government are unable to fetter their discretion or that of the local Gov-
Aug. 22.
Hopes that the deadlock the Indian National Congress and lene Government will be overcome Jand thus enable Mr. Gandhi to go to London have been revived upon receipt of the news that one of the WViceroy's first acts upon returning to Simla from Calcutta was to grant Mr. Gandhi's request from Ahmed-Jabad for an interview.
In hiv invitation the Viceroy' lasked Mr. Gandhi to proceed to nia if he considered any. mis fanderstandings required clearing up. It is now probable that the inter~ will tke place "early next Tei Bahadur Sapru, who is on his lway to London aboard the Mooltan, continuing his efforts at peace: making by wireless with Mtr. Gandhi land the Government, Meanwhile Me. Gandhi. pointing lout that the Viceroy does not desire terminate the truce, has inform Jed his followers that the fight (meaning civil disobedience) cannot. be renewed without the permission Jof the Congress Working Committee Avg. 23.
The complaints made by Mx.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.