Talks with Sri Aurobindo

11 JULY 1940

PURANI: Italy says that the change of the French constitution has come too late. Just because of the change, they can't waive their claims on France.

SRI AUROBINDO(laughing): Of course not. That would be easy way to get out.

NIRODBARAN: Ireland is getting more and more into a difficult position. What do you think of De Valera's proposal?

SRI AUROBINDO: Which proposal?

NIRODBARAN: About provincial autonomy to North Ireland?

SRI AUROBINDO: They won't consent unless De Valera joins the British in the defence of England. I don't think De Valera is so foolish as to say that by remaining strictly neutral Ireland will avoid a German attack. Hitler may or may not attack as it suits him.

NIRODBARAN: Even after so many examples before his eyes, he doesn't learn!

SRI AUROBINDO: Maurice Magre has said that one of the chief characteristics of the human race is stupidity. I think he is right.

SATYENDRA: But even England's help would not be of much use in case of attack.

SRI AUROBINDO: Why not?

NIRODBARAN: The defence will be far more effective without it.

SRI AUROBINDO: Of course. Still Germany may start aerial bombing.

EVENING

NIRODBARAN: Roosevelt has declared that America won't join the European war.

SRI AUROBINDO: Yes.

SATYENDRA: What we have been hearing about America's participation is only from the New York papers which are pro-Allies. Other papers have not mentioned it at all. The isolationist sentiment is still very strong in all other parts.

NIRODBARAN: He says in case of aggression they will attack, which goes without saying. (Laughter)

PURANI: There won't be any choice left then.

SRI AUROBINDO: If New York is invaded, they may take action.

NIRODBARAN: But Roosevelt's attitude was strongly pro-Allies at one time.

SRI AUROBINDO: That was before the fall of France. After the fall, things have changed and now America is not likely to join.

PURANI: Yes, but the Americans see that England can't stand alone against Germany.

SRI AUROBINDO: Besides, they can't send an expeditionary force if they joined. Where will it land?

SATYENDRA: In England there are plenty of people to fight.

NIRODBARAN: The Americans can land somewhere in England if Germany invades her.

SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, but if they can't do anything with forty million people, a few hundred thousand Americans won't help much. Of course America can help with munitions and the navy.

SATYENDRA: The American navy is not strong, either.

SRI AUROBINDO: No, but they are building fast. They have a navy for one ocean and now they will have navies for both.

SATYENDRA: England has sent the Duke of Windsor to the Bahamas, as far away as possible.

SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, he may be talking freely again, though not in public, and the Government thinks perhaps that he may be made a Fascist king if England is defeated.

SATYENDRA: Hitler has already declared that.

SRI AUROBINDO: Has he?

SATYENDRA: Yes.

PURANI: Sammer has a very nice idea. He says that all Europe will turn communist.

SRI AUROBINDO: Every communist says that. If Hitler is defeated, Germany may turn communist. In that case the whole of Europe will be communist. And after Hitler's death there may be dissensions in Germany and then communism may follow. But that is a remote possibility.