Harijan Ahmedabad—Sunday July 26 1942

The critics conveniently omit to mention the fact that in order to prove its bona fides and to prevent the Japanese attack the Congress has agreed that in spite of the withdrawal of the British the Allied troops should remain in India naturally under a treaty with the Frees India Government to be. [...] I hold it to be legitimate to make the Allied Powers responsible for all that may happen in India because it is 'open to them in the interests of -the common cause to prevent the happening of anything that might disturb the even course of the war. [...] Contrasts between the vast wealth and plunder of the richest princes and the British officials and merchants with the poverty and degradation of the Indian people is the measure of the inadequacy of 180 years of rule by the British Raj." This is a bare statement of non-controversial facts not made with a view to a study of India but in order to demonstrate " Britain's political weakness in Indi [...] But among those who hold steadfastly to the will to unite whaever happens—and that is what will ultimately count— the name of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad stands in the forefront." But that is the British way of being worthy of the salt one has eaten ! " Criminally Irresponsible A correspondent in the Nottingham Guardian inveighs against the talk of " a generous gesture " towards India for " unfor [...] The object of the Military Financial settlement was to " limit India's financial liability in connection with the war to such measures as are within her financial capacity and have clearly been or will be taken for the local defence of India." But the term " local defence of India " can be made to cover a multitude of sins according to the sweet will of the Finance Member who owes no responsibil