Mr Gandhi, before replying to the questions which had been submitted to him beforehand by the Editor of Textile Mercury, said he would like to send out a message which he hoped would be sympathetically received and understood by everyone engaged in the Lancashire cotton industry. He declared :
I know that the question is extremely difficult, but with the creation of goodwill between the two countries, I can see no reason for despair. The one indispensable condition is to set one's face resolutely against the vicious propaganda going on today in England to prejudice the Indian cause and to spread all kinds of rumours against the Indian National Congress, which can be demonstrated to the full.
While I am in England, I will consider it a privilege if I can remove all cause for misunderstanding, and with that end in view I am going to Lancashire next week. I go there with the friendliest motives; I would invite all to cross-examine me, an I promise to speak without the slightest mental reservation.
Q. What is the real cause of the decline in Lancashire's cloth trade in India?
A. In my opinion, not one but several causes. The boycott was and is, undoubtedly, one of the causes. The chief cause is the defeat of Lancashire by Japan. It should be remembered that the Indian boycott is not against Lancashire piece-goods, but against all foreign piece-goods, and yet Japan has made tremendous headway as compared to Lancashire. The third cause is universal, namely the declining capacity of the people to buy even the necessaries of life. The fourth is the ever-increasing production of Indian mills, and the fifth and last, is the growing desire of the villagers of India to manufacture cloth in their own homes.
Q. Is there an active campaign to oust Lancashire?
A. Since the Delhi Settlement there is absolutely no campaign, active or otherwise, to oust Lancashire in preferece to any other foreign competitor. Preference for indigenous clothΓÇöwhether mill-manufactured or homespunΓÇöcertainly continues.
Q. Are Japanese goods preferred? If so, why?
A. At the present moment there is certainly no preference given to Japanese goods.
Q. Is India's cloth consumption unchanged? If showing a decline, what percentage?
A. I think there is a decline, but imperceptible.
Q. How can Lancashire increase her trade with India? What are the prospects? Is it a question of price, quality, or anti-British compaign?
A. The only way Lancashire can possibly increase her trade with India I pointed out some months ago. Supposing there were a full-hearted settlement with India and supposing India had to buy foreign cloth to suppplement indigenous homespun and millspun, preference would be given to Lancashire over all other foreign cloth. Of course, the question of quality and price would still have to be considered, but it would have to be a matter of friendly adjustment.
Q. What percentage of her own needs, in textiles, can India supply? How much of this is factory-made, and how much is produced on handlooms?
A. In my opinion India is able, with certain facilities, to manufacture sufficient textiles in her villageΓÇösupplemented by indigenous millsΓÇöwithout any difficulty. At the present moment, one-third of India's cloth supply is manufactured on handlooms, one-third in mills, and one-third is imported.
My message to Textiles Mercury and through it to Lancashire is not to prejudge the whole issue through prejudices, but to study it in all its bearings.
