27 FEBRUARY 1942, Page 4

People who are disappointed that Mr. Amery has not been

moved from the India Office may be doing the Secretary of State some injustice. British policy regarding India at this juncture is a major issue, on which the decisive word must be said by the Prime Minister. Having regard to Mr. Churchill's implacable opposition to the Government of India Act, is it reasonable to assume that Mr. Amery plays the part, in relation to his chief, of a puller-back or a pusher-on?' The latter, I suggest, is more likely to be .the fact. But there seem to be signs that Mr. Churchill's views on India have undergone some development, and that we may before low see the result. It may possibly enough be thought expedient' that a new Indian policy should be directed by a new Secretary of State—if the office of Secretary of State for India is to survive—but not because the present S. of S. has been holding back a Prime Minister who was eager to press forward.

• * *