Cable from Gandhiji to Sarojini Naidu, March 1924

PRAY TELL GENERAL SMUTS AND RESPONSIBLE EUROPEANS THAT THE CLASS AREAS BILL IS A POOR RECOMPENSE FOR THE LOCAL INDIANS' EXEMPLARY SELF-RESTRAINT THROUGHOUT THE INTERESTED CAMPAIGN AGAINST THEM. EUROPEANS SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THE LOCAL INDIANS VOLUNTARILY SUBMITTED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE RESTRICTION OF FURTHER INDIAN IMMIGRATION. REMIND THE UNION GOVERNMENT OF THE ASSURANCE GIVEN TO GOKHALE THAT NO FURTHER DISABLING LEGISLATION WILL BE PASSED. ALSO THE COMPACT OF 1914. NOTHING SINCE DONE BY THE LOCAL INDIANS DESERVES THE PROPOSED TREATMENT. ACCEPTANCE OF THE CLASS AREAS BILL IS TANTAMOUNT TO POLITICAL AND CIVIL SUICIDE. I TRUST YOUR WINSOME ELOQUENCE WILL DISARM OPPOSITION AND MAKE THE LOT OF YOUR COUNTRYMEN EASIER FOR YOUR PRESENCE.

From: microfilm of a newspaper cutting, SN 8535; Collected Works, Volume 23, pages 258-59.