5 NOVEMBER 1927, Page 3

The Maharajah of Burdwan sent to the Times of Tuesday

a striking letter about the coming revision of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms in India. The Com- mission which is to inquire into the working of the Reforms must be appointed in 1929 at the latest, and the Maharajah is probably right in assuming that the Commission is to be constituted very soon. The chief point of his letter is a warning that if Indians are not to take part in the investigation the Commission will he boycotted. We heartily agree that Indians must be called into counsel, otherwiSe the whole of India will feel that Great Britain is going back on the principle of the Reforms and is merely imposing a new policy upon India without any thought of co-operation. The question is, however, in what form Indian help is to be sought. It must be remembered that the decision as to the future of the reforms will rest with the Imperial Parliament. The Commission will have no authority of its own. It will only advise Parliament what to do. * •*