29 AUGUST 1925, Page 2

The situation in India has distinctly improved. The Viceroy has

made a speech appealing for co-operation, and the new President (or Speaker) of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Patel, has unexpectedly but handsomely responded to Lord Reading's appeal. Mr. Patel is one of the most prominent leaders of the Swarajists. The Viceroy's speech was delivered to the Legislature on Thursday, August 20th, and, as had been anticipated, contained no new proposals. Indeed, Lord Birkenhead's recent speech had made it plain enough that no new proposals were under consideration, but that British policy was simply to carry on (probably till 1929, when the ten years' experiment in the present reforms comes to an end) in the hope that it may be more clear then than now what ought to be done. * * * *