.  (    60     )

mitted to the Secretary of State ; and in any such case
on a representation made through the Government of
India and the Secretary of State by the over-ruled
majority, the proposed Select Committee of the House
of Commons, should review the decision of the Gov¬
ernment. If however it is decided to create such a
Council, it is essential that its composition should be
liberalised. So far,back as 1886, the Indian National
Congress urged that not less than one-half of the mem¬
bers of the Imperial and Provincial Councils, which
it recommended should be enlarged should be elected,
not more than one-fourth should be officials holding seats
ex-offido in the Councils, and not more than one-fourth
should be nominated by Government, During the thirty-
two years that.have since passed, the Councils have been
twice reformed, and as has been shown in the preceding
paragraph, their work has been satisfactory. After this
long lapse of time, and after the fresh proofs of fidelity
and devotion which India has given during the last four
years of the war, is it too much to ask that in the pro¬
posed Council of State, which will really take the place
of the present Legislative Council, the number of members
selected b)' electorates in which Indians predominate,
should not be less than half of the total number ? Ex¬
perience has proved that the elected representatives of
the European community almost always side with the
Government. Therefore, though elected, they should
be regarded as good as nominated by the Government.
If this is done, I think it will reconcile Indian public
opinion to the proposal of a Council of State. Mr.
Montagu and Lord Chelmsford propose that the regu¬
lations which the Governor-General in Council should
make as to the qualifications of candidates for election
to the Council of State should be such as will ensure
that their status and position and record of services
will  give to the Council a senatorial character, and the