The Bill appointing the Statutory Commission for India ought to
be passed quickly, but there is an unexpected revolt in the Labour Party. When the Party consented to let Mr. Walsh and Major Attlee serve on the Com- mission it was assumed that the Bill would go through by consent, yet a few Labour back-benchers on Tuesday turned even the virtues of the Government into a crime. They complained that the Government were hastening the appointment of the Commission instead of leaving it till .1929 in order'. that* " they might them- selves appoint the Commission." The truth is that every single person who has 'examined the situation in India has urged upon the Government the advisability of expediting the Commission. So long as the matter remains in doubt there is every sort of incentive to Indians to work up racial and religions conflicts in order to force the hand of the Government in favour of this' or that interest. It' might lidVe been supposed, again, that the Labour Malcontents would have welcomed the unprecedented course which the Government have taken in submitting the idea of the Commission, and even the personnel of the Commission, to the verdict of Parliament. This is democ- racy in an extreme manifestation, for a Parliamentary Commission is usually .appointed by a Government without consulting Parliament. - * * *
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