" Never explain and never apologise " may not be
an infallible maxim for Western statesmen, but we are quite sure that the Viceroy's apologetic message to Indian Moslems in regard to the Turkish Peace Treaty was a grievous error. The signature is that of Lord Chelmsford but the language, we fear, is that of Mr. Montagu, who seems to .find a pleasure in abasing himself, and the British Government, before any Indian agitators who clamour loudly enough. We cannot •understand why Mr. Montagu, if it ' be he, should say that the Turkish Treaty " must be painful to all Moslems," or should send the Caliphate intriguers " a message of encouragement and sympathy " in their " hour of trial." Mr. Montagu here assumed what has still to be proved, namely, that Moslems in virtue of their religion want the Turks to go on tyrannising over Arabs and Greeks and Armenians. What, we wonder, will the King of the Hedjaz, and the Emir Feisul, and the Wahhabis, and all the millions of Shiahs think of Mr. Montagu's assumption that they must lament the fall of their old Turkish tyrants ? The Secretary for India seems to have a positive genius for saying the wrong thing.
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