Churchill took hardline on Gandhi

Gandhi was eventually assassinated by Hindu extremists in 1948
Winston Churchill favoured letting Gandhi die if he went on hunger strike, newly published Cabinet papers show.
The UK's WWII prime minister thought India's leader should be treated like anyone else if he stopped eating while being held by the British.

But his ministers persuaded him against the tactic, fearing Gandhi would become a martyr if he died in British hands.

Gandhi was detained in 1942 after he condemned India's involvement in the war but never went on hunger strike.

He is such a semi-religious figure that his death in our hands would be a great blow and embarrassment to us

Sir Stafford Cripps
Minister for Aircraft Production

Many British officials initially took a hardline stance to the possibility of such action.

The Viceroy of then British-run India, Lord Linlithgow, said he was "strongly in favour of letting Gandhi starve to death".

But senior government figures, such as former foreign secretary Lord Halifax argued: "Whatever the disadvantages of letting him out, his detention would be much worse."

Eventually in January 1943, ministers decided that although they could not give into a hunger strike publicly - they would be willing to release the spiritual leader on compassionate grounds.

"He is such a semi-religious figure that his death in our hands would be a great blow and embarrassment to us," said Sir Stafford Cripps, then Minister for Aircraft Production.

Failing health

But Churchill had said he would prefer to keep Gandhi locked up and let him do "as he likes".

However, he added: "But if you are going to let him out because he strikes, then let him out now."

Gandhi was eventually released in 1944 because of fears his failing health meant he could die in British custody.

He was assassinated on 30 January, 1948, aged 78, after Indian independence.

The full papers are on display at the National Archives in Kew, south-west London.



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Come sempre i pacifisti rompono troppo

Corrispondente Churchill,
la foto inedita dopo la cattura




Il retro dell'immagine del 1899 riporta la scritta:
"Winston Churchill dopo la fuga"

Una foto mai vista di Winston Churchill a cavallo scattata nel 1899 subito dopo la fuga dal carcere dove era stato trattenuto durante la seconda guerra boera andrà all'asta il 12 aprile a Dorset, nel Regno Unito. Nella foto un giovane Churchill, 26 anni, all'epoca corrispondente di guerra si allontana dopo la reclusione: il futuro primo ministro inglese appare magrissimo dopo le sue "sessanta ore di miseria" e in attesa di raggiungere le fila britanniche (Foto Iberpress)

Rep

g, 03/02/2012 16.20:

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il futuro primo ministro inglese appare magrissimo dopo le sue "sessanta ore di miseria"

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Il Coglione è stato misero x ben 2 giorni e ½