CABLE FROM MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK TO LAUCHLIN CURRIE May 31, 1942 RECENT RELIABLE INFORMATION FROM INDIA SHOWS INTERNAL SITUATION WORSENING. MAHATMA GANDHI LAUNCHING AROUND MIDDLE JUNE NON- VIOLENT NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT AIMING AT COMPLETE BREAKDOWN ALL COMMUNICATIONS RAILWAYS PUBLIC UTILITIES TO OUST BRITISH RULES. MOVEMENT WILL BE STRONGER THAN ALL PREVIOUS ONES AND MORE THAN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. IF INDIA GOVERNMENT PUT GANDHI UNDER ARREST THIS WILL AROUSE ANGER OF WHOLE COUNTRY. HE WILL NOT HESITATE TO GO INTO FAST UNTO DEATH CAMPAIGN TO ATTAIN OBJECTIVE. IF HE DIES WHOLE INDIA WHICH WORSHIPS HIM AS GOD WILL PROBABLY RISE IN REVOLT. AT HIS WORDS ALL VILLAGES ESPECIALLY CENTRAL INDIA WILL BE IN POSITION FRUSTRATE EXISTING WAR PLANS ACTIVITIES AND THUS AFFECT ENTIRE CAUSE UNITED NATIONS IN THIS PART ASIA. RECENT LETTERS FROM NEHRU SHOW THAT DESPITE ALL HE CAN DO INTERNAL REVOLUTION BREWING AS ANTI-BRISTISH FEELING GAINING MOMENTUM. HE THINKS ONLY WAY GAIN INDIAN PUBLIC SUPPORT OF WAR IS DECLARATION BY UNITED NATIONS OF INDIA INDEPENDENCE AND SELF- DETERMINATION BY UNITED NATIONS OF INDIA INDEPENDENCE AND SELF- DETERMINATION. HE WRITES "TIME IS PART NOW WHEN SOME CLEVER FORMULA ACCEPTABLE TO BRITISH AND INDIA CAN BE DEVISED. POPULAR AS I AM WITH MY PEOPLE THERE IS SO MUCH ANTI-BRITISH FEELING NOW THAT I CANNNOT POSSIBLE GET ANYTHING DONE WHICH IGNORES INDIA'S INDEPENDENCE SELF-DETERMINATION. |