23 JUNE 1933, Page 2

Conservatives and India The conflict in the Conservative Party- over

the Government's Indian policy will come to a head on Wednesday, - h Mr. Baldwin addresses the Central Council of the party in London, and Mr. Churchill intends to take part in the discussion. The occasion will be critical, but there is every reason to anticipate that Mr. Baldwin will rise to it successfully. The opponents of the White Paper policy have too long had the field to themselves. Now its supporters are organiz- ing in its defence and the result is such convincing state- ments as that embodied in a letter on a later page of this issue signed by a number of distinguished British administrators with quite recent experience of India. That is what gives their attitude its significance. The article by Sir Michael O'Dwyer, to which they are replying, was marked by sincerity and moderation, but Sir Michael, when he appeared before the Select Committee of the two Houses last week admitted that his term of service in India came to an end in 1920, i.e., just when the reform scheme based on the Montagu-Chelmsford proposals was coming into operation. He, therefore, like so many associated with him (Lord Lloyd, who left India in 1923, is a partial exception) has no experience of the tremendous change in the outlook and temper of India since that date. This, it must be repeated, is a case where to stand still is far more dangerous than to go forward. * *