27 DECEMBER 1919, Page 3

A correspondent in last Saturday's Morning Poet stated that the

ex-Service men who are being selected for Government employment in India are asked : " (a) What they think of the Montagu Reforms ; or (la) Are they prepared to carry them out if they go to India Y " It would be interesting to know whether the Selection Committee accepted or rejected the candidates according to their answers, or whether the Committee were asking idle questions without any ulterior motive. In any case, such questions ought not to have been put to the candidates. The Government may rightly ask for loyal service, but they have no right to expect their servants to profess an unqualified belief in a particular policy or politician. India needs our best men, and not merely the admiring disciples of Mr. Montagu.