The Government of India has settled the Crawford affair by
a reasonable compromise. The Government of Bombay had promised immunity to such native officials as gave evidence, but when they accused themselves of giving bribes, the Supreme Court pointed out that they had become by Statute, as well as by natural equity, incapable of retain- ing office. The Government at home felt that it was impossible to keep the pledge, yet impossible to break it, and therefore directed the following Act to be passed:— All who gave evidence are exempted from legal pro- ceedings, all who voluntarily offered bribes are dismissed with full pecuniary compensation, but all from whom bribes were demanded are pardoned as not being in reality free agents. The arrangement is fair as well as adroit, and quite unavoidable besides, but we should say it would greatly in- crease the difficulty of getting evidence in future. We dislike all pledges of the kind on principle, and when they are given. they ought to be limited to "exemption from legal consequences and pecuniary loss." Lord Lansdowne, in introducing the Bill, took occasion to praise Lord Reay, the Governor of Bombay, for his courage and singleness of purpose.
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