Swaraj settlement

WE have already expressed our gratification at the settlement that has been arrived at between the two wings of the Swaraj party. A cursory glance at the terms of the settlement would show that those were the only terms on which this was possible on the basis of a compromise. By the first of the terms, both sides undertook to stop all public controversy and propaganda on the question of the Swaraj party’s programme till the ensuing session of the Congress. That this was absolutely the best thing for the two parties to do during the next fortnight or so, both in their own interest and in the interests of the party and the country, no reasonable man can for one moment doubt. By the second of the terms, it was decided that after the Cawnpur (Kanpur) Congress and subject to the decision of the party at Cawnpur, there should be full liberty of expression of views for all members of the Swaraj party till such time as the party finally decided its programme for the next general elections to the legislature. We frankly do not like the words “subject to the decision of the party at Cawnpur,” for they leave a loophole through which the spirit of dissension may reappear at Cawnpur and the wise decision reached at Bombay may be sought to be set aside. We can only hope that this prognostication will be falsified, and that the same considerations that have led to the adoption of the compromise at Bombay will lead to its maintenance at Cawnpur.