THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
During November the N.C.C. Secretary made two further visits which were strategically important for reassuring a humanitarian course for the German families and in the interest of the mission churches. Hodge’s visit to the Basel Mission from November 7-11, 221 and a second interview with the Home Department on November 15th were executive in nature; at the same time he provided Government with additional knowledge and guidance. In the opening weeks of the war and the bargaining for the release of the German men, one cannot forget the many other mission fellow-workers and the German missionary wives who faithfully took up the duties and concerns of the mission churches.
Hodge’s visit to the Basel Mission field and the Synod session of the three Basel churches provided him a rare but helpful contact with the remaining Swiss brethren Streckeisen, Burkhardt and Noverraz, as well as with „many of the Indian pastors and leading laymen.“222 He also confirmed the presence of Dr. & Mrs. Maclean at the Mission headquarters of Mangalore, and that „Mr. Matthews should take over the managership of the Basel Mission Press.“223 There Hodge met the German ladies and heard their complaints. Through a meeting with the District Collector, Hodge, with Streckeisen and Maclean, managed to help relax the restrictions for these ladies of the Mission.224
The other principal visit was Hodge’s second interview with the Home Department on November 15th, again in New Delhi. On this occasion Hodge was „received by the Hon. F.H. Puckle, who was equally gracious. Mr. H.F. Frampton, Deputy Secretary, and Mr. Cook, Controller of Enemy Property, were also present.“225 Once more the crucial question of the discussion was to gain the release of the German men. Questions pertaining to the changed status of the Basel Mission, German Mission properties, personal allowances and repatriation were also raised. Hodge made these notes;
1. At the outset, Mr. Puckle informed me that Government had now decided on their policy. They were prepared to release on parole, with no exacting conditions, all missionaries and other German nationals whose loyalty to the Government in India was above suspicion and against whom no adverse reports had been received. …
2. The procedure preparatory to release would be the same as that followed in the case of interned Jewish refugees. Each case would be investigated by the Commission of Enquiry, presided over by Sir Malcolm Darling, and if the Commission is satisfied that there is nothing to the detriment of the Missionary, he will be allowed to return to his post without any further delay. Other German nationals will be similarly treated and the process of investigation and release is therefore likely to take some time.226
In all, Hodge gained a „very satisfactory and rather different impression from the October i6th meeting.“227
The application of the ‚principle of discrimination‘ meant that the Government of India’s policy of investigation, to he executed by the Darling Commission of Enquiry, could eventually lead to the releases.228 This investigation or interrogation, and the gradual release of the German brethren, were staged at the Ahmadnagar Camp. There the Darling chapter unfolded.