years, Vithalbhai travelled in the United States and Europe. The mayors of cities such as New York, Boston, Detroit, Chicago, and San Francisco officially received him. He was also welcomed officially by the Governors of Pennsylvania and Maryland. He also addressed each of the two houses of California's legislature for half an hour. While Vithalbhai was in London, the relationship between the British Empire and Ireland began to deteriorate. Eamon De Valera came into power and refused to pay land annuities. The British cabinet was interested in devising ways to protect Ireland from slipping out of British hands. De Valera wanted Vithalbhai to act as an arbitrator between the British Empire and Ireland in the dispute on the Irish Question. Patel's health worsened in Europe. As his last political act, Patel signed a statement written by Bose which proclaimed Gandhi as a failed leader and called for a militant form of non-cooperation. On his deathbed he left a will of sorts, bequeathing three-quarters of his money to Bose to use in promoting India’s cause in other countries. When Vallabhbhai Patel saw a copy of the letter in which his brother had left a majority of his estate to Bose, he asked a series of questions: Why was the letter not attested by a doctor? Had the original paper been preserved? Why were the witnesses to that letter all men from Bengal and none of the many other veteran freedom activists and supporters of the Congress who had been present at Geneva where Vithalbhai had died? Patel may even have doubted the veracity of the signature on the document. The case went to court and after a legal battle that lasted more than a year, the courts judged that Vithalbhai’s estate could only be inherited by his legal heirs, that is, his family. Patel promptly handed the money over to the Vithalbhai Memorial Trust. Vitthalbhai died in Geneva, Switzerland, on 22 October 1933. His body was embalmbed in Geneva and transported to Bombay on SS Narkunda and was cremated in Bombay on 10 November in front of a crowd of over 3 lakh people. References Cited sources 1871 births 1933 deaths Indian independence activists from Gujarat People from Gujarat Presidents of the Central Legislative Assembly of India Vallabhbhai Patel Members of the Central Legislative Assembly of India Indian Hindus People from Nadiad