A GREAT RISK. VICEROY OF INDIA'S COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 51, 2 March 1909, Page 7

A GREAT RISK. VICEROY OF INDIA'S COUNCIL.

NATIVE MEMBERS. THE SPECTATOR'S OPINION. By Telegraph.— -Press Association.— Copyright. - (Received March 2, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Ist March. The Spectator declares that Viscount ' Morley (Secretary of State for India) is . running a risk in adding native members. to the Viceroy of India's Council. The. Mohammedans, says the Spectator, will suffer what they consider to be a hitmilijt-. tion, and moreover, there is -little doubt*! that the native princes .will- view tbe B change with suspicion. j HINDUS AND MOHAMMEDANS. MEMORIAL TO LORD MORLEY. CALCUTTA, Ist March. A hundred ruling chiefs and hereditary nobles of the Punjab have formed a Loyalist Association, and have memoralised Lord 'Morley, stating that Hindus strong ly object to the Mohammedans being represented beyond their numerical strength. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DECENTRALISATION. CALCUTTA, Ist March. The Royal Commission on Decentralisation in India has reported in fay- . our of enhancement of the powers of the Provincial Governments, and has euggested that these should ultimately be regular Councils of Government, with a Governor and four members, two of I these to be appointed as in Madras and Bombay. The Mohammedans declare that any method which entrusts the election of Mohammedan representatives in the Viceregal and Provincial Councils to a mixed body of electors would be highly detrimental to Mohammedan interests that the only system Avhich would meet the just claims of Mussulman subjects is the separate election of their own representatives by Mohammedan voters ; and that as,.in the opinion of his Majesty's Government, the time has arrived for introducing the Indian element into the Executive Councils of the Indian Governments, in the interests of the Empire both the great communities of India should berepresented. In August, 1907, a Royal Commission, was appointed to enquire into the relations now existing, for financial and administrative purposes, between the supreme Government and the various Provincial Governments in India, and between the Provincial Governments and the authorities subordinate to them ; and to report whether, by measures of decentralisation or otherwise, those relations can be simplified and improved, and the system of government better adapted to meet the requirements and promote the welfare of the different provinces, and, without impairing its strength and unity, to bring the executive power into closer touch with local conditions. The Commissioners were : — Sir H. W. Primrose, K.C.B. (chairman), Sir F. S. P. Lely, K.C. 1.E., Sir S. W. Edgerly, X.C.V.0., /Mu. H. C. Dutt, C.1.E., Mr. W. S. Meyer, C.1.E., Mr. L. Hichens, and Mr. H Wheeler (secretary).