News of the Week
The New Viceroy of India THE Government have at least done one immensely
popular thing at the end of a very unsatisfactory session. They have proposed Lord Willingdon as the new Viceroy of India, and the King has approved their choice. This appointment is not altogether a surprise as Lord Willingdon's name had been. mentioned. It cannot be said, however, that he was by any means a favourite in the " betting," partly because his age (64) was supposed to he against him, and partly because he had held Provin- cial .V,overnorships in India=first in Bombay and then in Madras—and the tradition has been that a ProVineial Governor does not proceed to the Governor-Generalship. There does not seem to be any special reason why there should not be promotion -from a loWer to the highest position, but statesmanship acquired in the British Parlia- ment, rather than local knowledge of India, has always been held the prime qualification. In 1921, at the last moment, Lord Reading was preferred to Lord Willingdon as Viceroy.
