(    33    )

defence of their country, being justly dealt with until a
substantial measure -of political power is enjoyed by
Indians, Political status depends upon political power.
Mr. Montagu and Lord Chelmsford said in their report
that the importance of the question of British Commis¬
sions outweighs in the eyes of India all others. They
recommended that a considerable number of Commis¬
sions should now be thrown open to Indians. There
were 2,689 officers of the British Army serving in India
in 1914-15, and 2,771 of the Indian Army, or 5,560 in all.
It is estimated that for the new army of half a million
about fifteen thousand offiers will be required. But the
Government of India have decided, with the approval
of the Right Hon'ble the Secretary of State for India,
to nominate only ten Indian gentlemen annually during
the war for Cadetships at the Royal Military College at
Sandhurst, and to offer a certain number of temporary
King's Commissions in the Indian army to selected can¬
didates nominated partly from civil life and partly from
the army. No number has been fixed for Commissions
which are to be granted under any of the headings (i)
(2) or (3}. Indians had hoped that this question of
Commissions will be dealt with in a broader spirit.
They naturally think that adequate justice has not
been done to their claims, and they feel keenly disap¬
pointed. But this attitude towards Indians will persist
until Indians come to exercise power in the administra¬
tion of their country.

Fiscal Autonomy.
25. There is yet another condition of the problem of
outstanding importance vyhich demands attention, and
that is the question of fiscal autonomy. Mr. Montagu
and Lord Chelmsford have noted the weakness of
India's economic position and also the keenness of the
desire of Indians to improve it.     They have recognised

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