Author’s Views: Narrating the Gandhi–Irwin Pact and Gandhi’s doubtful participation in the Round Table Conference and Lord Willingdon’s efforts, the author concludes that Lord Wellingdon did not yield any vital postion nor let off any interest of the government. The author questions to the effect as to what had Gandhi gained in all this drama? (This is regarding the Settlement of 5th March 1931 and Congress Working Committee's decision not to send Gandhi to attend the Round Table Conference and later on Gandhi changing the decision )
Comments: On 20 August 1931, Gandhi’s wrote in an editorial entitled “ The Real issue”. Excerpts: “ Though apparently very little difference between the Government and the Congress led to the decision of the Working Committee not to send me to London (for the RTC), really the difference was fundamental. …The charge sheet will give a glimpse of the breeches alleged by the Congress to have been made by the respective provincial governments. If the settlement were a legalized document, the Government would be suable in a court of law. The fact, however, is it is not legalized, throws a double responsibility on the Government of giving Congress a tribunal, where it can prove those breeches, or where it can get authoritative ruling on the interpretation of several clauses of the settlement or of its implications…In their opinion, co-operation means acceptance of their orders and authority and not mutual trust and accommodation between parties to the contract. If the Congress was unworthy of confidence or if its demands are distasteful or unacceptable to the British government, the settlement should not have been entered into. Further if the congress by any action on its part proved itself unworthy of confidence, the settlement should have been repudiated”
After corresponding with Gandhi, the Viceroy who was in Calcutta hastened to Simla and on Gandhi’s request (to personally explain and clear up any misunderstanding )granted him an interview on 25 August . Following the discussion with Mr. Emerson, the Home Secretary and later his talk with the Viceroy, a communiqué was published on August 28. This was generally refereed as ‘the second settlement”.
It provided a) that the Congress would be represented at the RTC by Gandhi. b) that the settlement of 5 March would be operative. c) that the congress complaint regarding the repression in Bardoli would be made the subject of an inquiry by a Collector under the precise terms of reference. d) that the future complaints would be dealt with in accordance with ordinary administrative procedure, including the question of holding an inquiry. Most importantly Gandhi made it clear that “if any grievance is so actually felt that it becomes a paramount duty of the Congress to seek some method of relief, in the absence of an inquiry, in the shape of defensive direct action, the Congress should be held free to adopt such remedy notwithstanding the suspension of civil disobedience”. This most important clause was an integral part of the second settlement. These were what Gandhi gained. That is why he agreed to leave for the RTC on Aug 29 . May be the author was unaware of the 'second settlement'.
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