I thank you for the honour you have done me. I know that the honour is not meant for me personally or for my friends. It is an honour done to the Congress whom I hope to be able to represent at the Round Table Conference. I came to know that there was a hitch in your proceedings on account of the national flag. Now it is inconceivable for me to find a meeting of Indians, especially where national leaders are invited, without the national flag flying there. You know that many people sustained lathi blows and some have lost their lives in defending the honour of the flag, and you cannot honour an Indian leader without honouring the Indian national flag. Again there is a Settlement between the Government and the Congress, which is no loger a hostile party but a friendly party. It is not enough therefore to tolerate or permit the Congress flag, but it must be given the place of honour where Congress representatives are invited.
On behalf of the Congress, I give you the assurance that the Congress does not stand merely for isolated independence, which may easily become a menace to the world. But the Congress, with its creed of truth and non-violence, cannot possibly be a menace to the world. It is my conviction that India numbering one-fifth of the human race, becoming free through non-violence and truth, can be a great force of service to the whole of mankind. On the contrary India having no voice in her affairs is today a menace. It is a helpless India exciting the jealousy and greed of other countries which must live by exploiting her. But when India refuses to be exploited and is well able to take care of herself, and achieves that freedom through non-violence and truth, she will be a force for peace and make for peaceful atmosphere in this troubled globe of ours.
It was therefore natural that the Arabs and others joined the Indians in organizing this function. All who desire peace must join together to perpetuate peace. This great peninsula, the birth-place of Mahomed and of Islam, can help to solve the Hindu-Muslim problem. It is a matter of shame to me to confess that we are a house divided against itself. We fly at each other's throats in cowardice and fear. The Hindu distrusts the Mussalman through cowardice and fear, and the Mussalman distrusts the Hindu through equal cowardice and imaginary fears. Islam throughout history has stood for matchless bravery and peace. It can therefore be no matter for pride to the Mussalmans that they should fear the Hindus. Similarly it can be no matter for pride to the Hindus that they should fear Mussalmans, even if they are aided by the Mussalmans of the world. Are we so fallen that we should be afraid of our own shadows? You will be surprised to hear that the Pathans are living in peace with us. They stood side by side with us ill the last struggle, and sacrified their young men on the altar of liberty. I want you, who belong to the country of the Prophet's birth, to make your contribution to the restoration of peace between Hindus and Muslims in India. I cannot tell you how you are to do it, but I may remind you that where there is a will there is a way. I want the Arabs of Arabia to come to our rescue and help to bring about a condition of things when the Mussalman will consider it a point of honour to help the Hindu and vice versa.
For the rest, I would also give you the message of spinning and weaving in your homes. Some of the Caliphs led lives which were models of simplicity, and if you help yourself by making your own cloth, there is in it nothing derogatory to Islam. There is also the problem of drink which for you should be twice cursed. There should be not a drop here, but as there are other communities too, I think the Arabs will have to persuade them to make Aden dry. I do hope our relations with one another will now grow richer and closer.
