11 FEBRUARY 1922, Page 3

Mr. Gandhi meanwhile has given the Viceroy seven days' grace

before beginning "civil disobedience" in the Bardoli district of Bombay. If the Viceroy will liberate all " political " prisoners and abandon his " repressive " policy, Mr. Gandhi will graciously postpone his new move. In other words, if the Government of India will cease to govern, and will let the non- co-operators terrorise their law-abiding fellow-citizens, Mr. Gandhi will not just yet advocate a wholesale defiance of the law. The gross impertinence of the proposal shows Mr. Gandhi's contempt for constituted authority.