LORD MGRLEY & THE INDIA OFFICE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 18 November 1910, Page 4

LORD MGRLEY & THE INDIA OFFICE.

WHY A CHANGE WAS MADE. ONE of the sicl.e issues of British politics at tbe present tim.e—none file less important for that, however—is the virtual reconstruction of the Cabinet that has been miade within the past few weeks: particularly the "shunting" oi Lord Morley from the India Office. Lord. Morley's name will always be rememibered' as a Minister who was wise and courageous enough to recognise that- the peoples of India could not be continuously subjected to a process of education in the value of representative institutions, -and at the same time be steadily debarred from any choice i*government. But in his desire to improve the situation in India- .i_rord Mci ley is charged with having exercised an altogether undue extent of centre: over the Viceroy, and al?o over respon sible officials, even in the provincial Gc vernments.

Mr Chirol, the author of the articles on India lately appearing in "The Times,"' makes out a very strong case against Lord 1 Morley for undue interference with the Viceroy and the Government of India, and for embarrassing the officials in their work. Ma - J. L. vin, the well-known publicist, writes in the October issue of the "Fortnightly Review"' :—"We believe ourselves that there can be no hope for the sufficient success of Lord Hardkige's Vice-royalty unless he .and h.is advisers in Ind>ia. are given a freer hand than has been allowed to Lord Minto."

The objections to Lord Morley's autocratic attitude an'd< his determined subordination of the authority of the Viceroy of India, to his own views, both writers quoted say, are not confined to his political opponents, and one of the most serious charges laid against him is that. after introducing repressive enactments against sedition, he has privately nullified the effect of them by instructing the adirr.inistrative officials in India not to press the more stringent provisions. It is declared' that the Government of India ha.s been gravely hampered for some time past, and the appointment of Lord Hardinge as the new Viceroy made it opportune to replace Lord Morley by a trkd and> experienced member of the Cabinet—Lor c ] Crewe, who, as Secretary for the Colonies, has been tactful on the whole, and a careful administrator. He shows that he is able to follow the line of least reMstance, where an opposite course is likely 10 lead to friction with Administrators on the spot in overseas dominions; and that is just the kind of Indian Minister who in the past, aus in the future, alone has been or will be able to conduct Indian affairs successfully.