Conservatives and India The Central Council of the National Union
of Con- servative and Unionist Associations, by rejecting on Wednesday a motion which virtually amounted to a resolution of censure on the Government, and on the Conservative leaders in particular, for its policy regarding India, and deciding by a majority of well over two to one (838 votes to 856) to suspend judgement till the . Select Committee has reported on the White Paper pro- posals; vindicated Mr. Baldwin and pronounced de- eisivelY against Mr. Churchill. That is a distinctly satis- factory result as far as it goes. It may be argued with some -justice that the minority was considerable and that the non-committal character of the resolution adopted allowed many delegates to vote for it who largely share Mr. Churchill's misgivings. That, no doubt, is true ; • but in fact the resolve to wait for the Select Committee's .findings is entirely wise. If the Committee declares, as there is every reason to suppose it will; for the White Paper scheme, with modifications of form rather than of substance, the opposition will be greatly weakened and waverers will swing definitely towards the Government. Even before then the able exposition of the case for the reforms to which such bodies as the new Union of Britain and India are devoting themselves should have done a good deal to strengthen the Govern- ment's position. With the Viceroy and his Council, the Provincial Governors, the Chambers of Commerce in India and the European Association be hind them Ministers have a shattering answer to critics who accuse them of betraying British interests.
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