INDIA

Evening Star, Issue 17921, 17 March 1922, Page 4

INDIA

THE MONTAGU INCIDENT*

DISCUSSED BY COMMONS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

LONDON, March 15.

Mr O'Connor, in moving the adjournment of the House of Commons, said that Mr Montagu was fanatical on the subject of Moslem opinion in India. After the motion had been seconded Mr Montagu rose, and the House filled. Ho complained that Mr Chamberlain did not include tho word “ regret ’’ when announcing Ms resignation. Ho repented tho arguments used in his speech to Ins constituents.

Replying to Lord Curzon’s speech, Air Montagu urged that India was a member of tho League of Nations. It was folly to suggest that a great dependency which was a party to-the original treaty should not be allowed to express its view's regarding modification. It was not true that India was dictating to tho people of Britain or to tho Government, Mr Montagu said that India was entitled to a predominating share in muring tiro treaty with Turkey, because no other country played .so groat a part In Turkov’s defeat. Sr Chamberlain said that "Mr Lloyd George knew' nothing until ho saw the document, in the London papers, and he regarded it ns a national misfortune. There could bo no rule regarding vvi as matters should be brought before tho Cabinet. That must be left to tho discretion of tho Ministers, who must stand or fall by the use of that discretion.

Mr Asquith said the important tiling was that tho Government had now discovered there was such a thing ns Cabinet responsibility. Tho moral of the incident was that the sooner, wo. returned to tho old straight way where politicians were divided by real differences of conviction the better.

Tho motion was withdrawn.—A. and N.Z. Cable.