द इण्डियन स्ट्रगल / भारतीय स्वाधीनता संग्राम (नेताजी सुभाष चन्द्र बोस - ऐतिहासिक विश्लेषण)

218 THE INDIAN STRUGGLE
clever manœuvring, Mr. George Slocombe, representative of
the Daily Herald, managed to get permission to interview
Mahatma Gandhi in Yeravada Prison in Poona on May 19th
and 20th, 1930, with a view to ascertaining from him the
conditions on which he would be prepared to call off the
civil-disobedience movement. The Mahatma said that the
movement could not be stopped without a definite guarantee
of the 'substance of independence.' He mentioned four
points as a prerequisite to suspension of civil disobedience
and participation in the Round Table Conference:

1. The terms of reference to the Round Table Con-
   ference to include the framing of a Constitution giving India
   the substance of independence.
2. Satisfaction to be granted to the demand for the repeal
   of the Salt Tax, the prohibition of liquor and opium and ban
   on foreign cloth.
3. An amnesty for political prisoners to coincide with the
   end of the civil-disobedience campaign.
4. The remaining points raised in the Mahatma's letter
   to the Viceroy to be left for future discussion.
   On June 20th, Mr. Slocombe interviewed Pandit Motilal
   Nehru, the Acting President of the Congress, on the eve of
   his arrest. The Pandit substantially confirmed what the
   Mahatma had told Mr. Slocombe. On June 25th, Mr.
   Slocombe drafted a statement outlining the basis for negotia-
   tions between the Government and the Congress and this state-
   ment was approved by the Pandit. The statement ran thus:
   'If in certain circumstances the British Government and
   the Government of India, although unable to anticipate
   the recommendations that may in perfect freedom be made
   by the Round Table Conference or the attitude which the
   British Government may reserve for such recommendations,
   would nevertheless be willing to give a private assurance
   that they would support the demand for full responsible
   government for India, subject to such mutual adjustments,
   and terms of transfer as are required by the special needs
   and conditions of India and by her long association with
   Great Britain and as may be decided by the Round Table
   Conference, Pandit Motilal Nehru would undertake to