NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE event of the week has been Mr. Montagu's explanation.
It was the crowning discredit of a discreditable episode. We have never wavered in our opinion as to his tenure of the post of Secretary for India. Mr. Montagu should never have been offered that office, and, when offered it, he should never have accepted it.. The reason is plain. The Indian Government is deeply concerned in the price and movement of silver. Indian commerce and revenue turn on a pivot of silver. But Mr. Montagu's brother is the head of the most important silver firm in the world, and his whole family is concerned with silver. That per se involves no sort of discredit to Mr. Montagu and his family, but it is an imperative reason against his being Indian Secretary. In matters so important there should be no loophole for suspicion, even groundless sus- picion. No man with a fine sense of honour would ever have let himself be placed in a position which Mr. Montagu admits he sought for. In the debate in the Commons on Wednesday night Mr. Montagu said nothing which excused him and nothing which effaces the impression that he thought he could squeeze the Government as they were in a tight place. He, however, got squeezed himself. He did not want to resign. That he was compelled to do so is now his chief ground of complaint. Mr. Montagu's account of why he did not resign long ago, and his four reasons for not doing so, were singularly lame and unconvincing. We are well aware that even in 1919 Mr. Montagu talked about resignation to persons who he thought would be affected thereby, and paraded the wounds he had received from cruel critics ; but when it came to the point no resignation ever took place. Mr. Montagu is of the kind that goeth not out even with prayer and fasting. Hints are of no use. He requires a direct dismissial.
