11 MARCH 1922, Page 2

We have assumed, for the purposes of argument, that. the

Government were acting on their own account. NA if it were proved that the British Government, as the Tines declares, had authorized, and perhaps even inspired, the declaration from Delhi, the whole blame would have to be transferred to their shoulders. In that case it would appear that the Secretary for India, with the support of a Cabinet majority or of the Prime Minister alone, was publicly flouting

• his colleague the Foreign Secretary. Such an open confession that the Cabinet was divided about its Eastern or Near Eastern policy would be even worse than the policy of letting things drift which has been pursued too long.