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 would receive more attention in London. The British do not understand today what is happening in Asia. With American help they may understand tomorrow.”

“Therefore it is,” Gandhi said, “that I come to brass tacks and say that the British will understand not while we are reasoning with them and showing them the great justice and feasibility of our proposal, but when we begin to act. That is British history. They are impressed by action, and it is action that we must take now. For the moment, however, I must popularize the idea of an Indian national government now and demonstrate that there is nothing chimerical or visionary about it. It is based on non-violence although I do not need the idea of non-violence to prove the validity or justice of my aim. The same aim might have evolved even if I were violently inclined. Even if I were violently inclined I might have said, ‘Go and do not use India as your military base.’ But to day I say, ‘If you must use India as a base lest some one else appropriate it, use it, and stay here on honorable terms and do no harm.’ I would go further and add that if the central government which India evolves is military-minded the British may have its help.”

“If the British,” I asked, “under pressure, were to accept your offer, how would you launch your republic of seven hundred thousand villages?”