After deploring all the lawlessness in India Lord Irwin said,
" The gravity of the present movement, however, does not deflect my judgment on the question of Coll-
stitutional reform by a hair'sbreadth. So long as civil disobedience persists we must light it with all our strength. On the other hand so far from desiring a so-called victory over a nationalist movement Constitutionally puilowd, I desire nothing more than to help India to translate her aspirations into reality.' The British Government, he explained in conclusion, had decided that the Hound Table Conference must enjoy the full freedom which his "Dominion status speech had eiminoted. The Conference no doubt would be greatly assisted by the Simon Report, but the Report would not impair its liberty. Any agreement reached by the Conference would be " the basis of the proposals " which the British Government would submit to Parliament.
