Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/598

 508 NON-CO-OPERATION

liave fixed definite, progressive four stages. The first is the giving up of titles and resignation of honorary posts. If there is no response or if the response received is not effect- ive, recourse will be had to the second stage. The second stage involves much previous arrangement. Certainly not a single servant will be called out unless he is either capable of supporting himself and his dependants or the Khilafat Committee is able to bear the burden. All the classes of servants will not be called out at once and never will any pressure be put upon a single servant to withdraw himself ^from the Government service. Nor will a single private em- ployee be touched for the simple reason that the move- ment is not anti-English. It is not even anti-Government. Co-operation is to be withdrawn because the people must not be party to a wrong i broken pledge i violation of a <1eep religious sentiment. Naturally, the movement will receive a check, if there is any undue influence brought to near upon any Government servant or if any used or countenanced by any member of the Khilafat ; l mittee. The second stage must be entirely response is at all on an adequate scale. For no much less the Indian Government can Subsist if the people cease to serve it. The withdrawal therefore of the police and the military the third stage is a distant goal. The organisers however wanted to be fair, open and above suspicion. They did not want to keep back from their Government or the public a single step they had in con- templation even as a remote contigency. The fourth i. *. suspension of taxes is still more femote. The organisers recognise that suspension of genera 1 taxation is fraught with the greatest danger. It is likely to bring sensitive classes in confict with the police. They are therefore not likely to embark upon it, unless they can do so with the

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