[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR, — In the debate
of July 8th on the proposal to reduce the salary of the Secretary of State for India, Mr. Montagu, in reply to Mr. R. Gwynne, stated that "foul charges were being brought against him, which were not supported by the facts." Mr. Gvrynne replied that when Mr. Montagu was criticised in the House of Commons he stated that the charges brought against him were "foul," Mr. Montagu gave no answer to Mr. Gvrynne. Lieut.-General Sir Hunter Weston, who had just re- turned from India, stated that undoubtedly there was at present a certain strain in the relations between the British population in India and certain sections of the Indians. Sir William Ioynson-Hicks, a ho has also just returned from India, stated that his own opinions, prejudicial to Mr. Montagu, were held by at least 80 per cent. of the Civil Service throughout India, and by SO per cent, of the European population. Mr. Montagu had for some time past entirely lost the confidence of the Indian Civil Service. In this debate, for the first time, the Indian Civil Service was represented. As a retired member of that gervice, I appeal to the Cabinet to remove Mr. Montagu from kis post. I have, through your kindness, endeavoured to show your readers why he was unfit for that post. Now constitu- tionally there is a good case for his removal. When before has a Secretary of State, for the Army. Navy, or any other Depart- ment, had such charges made against him—charges that remain unanswered? The Indian Civil Service have some rights, and now is the time for their being attended to.—I am,
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