Progress in India By his sensible decision to send political
officers to the Indian States to discuss with the Princes on his behalf the practical problems involved in their acceptance of the new federal scheme Lord Linlithgow has brought the probable date of federation considerably nearer. There is no reason now why it should not be a reality by the early part of 1938, and no reason therefore why it should not synchronise with a great Coronation Durbar. The Viceroy's initiative has been well received, and there is every prospect that the necessary quota of Princes acceding will be forthcoming much sooner than was originally thought likely. The Provincial elections take place in the coming winter, and it is obviously desirable that the period in which the provinces are autonomous— as they will be from April 1st—and a non-federal bureau- cratic government still survives at the centre, shall be as short as possible. The Congress Party, faced with the perennial problem of whether to pledge its members not to take office in the Provincial Governments, has decided to postpone a decision till after the elections ; the non- co-operationists are very far from having things their own way. Meanwhile the thirty-five millions of the depressed classes are said to have resolved to abandon Hinduism, and in their search for a new religion to be hesitating between Islam and Christianity. Their decision may be of some political significance,
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