CHURCHILL'S
SPEECH
Speaking on
the Colonial Conference, Mr. Churchill has declared that the people of
South Africa have the freedom to make whatever laws they wish relating
to Kaffirs and Asiatic immigration. That means that the colonies in South
Africa have complete powers to regulate Asiatic immigration. All that will
remain for the Imperial Government to do is occasionally to take a look
at laws relating to Indians now residing in South Africa. But the new Transvaal
Ordinance does not relate to immigration. And though it applies to the
Indians already living there, the Imperial Government has given its assent
to it. It follows from this that the local governments in South Africa
will be able to attack the Indian community with impunity. The only weapon
with which to ward off the attack is our resolution on gaol-going. As in
the saying, "there is no help like self-help, no water like that of rain',
everything depends on our own strength and courage. Even by the road that
we have taken we shall in the end arrive at the resolution on gaol-going;
so far-sighted is the resolution and so obvious are its advantages.
[From Gujarati]
-- The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Volume Six
