THE COUNCIL OF INDIA.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.]
your "News of the Week" in the Spectator of August 12th you justly cite the speech of Sir Henry Fowler as a remarkable example of the solidarite of English states- men. That speech also was in itaelf a demonstration of its opening sentence, that India ought never to be a party question. His defence of the home administration of Indian affairs was mainly based on the existence of "the Council of India, composed entirely of leading administrators, Judges, and men of business, and compelled by law to sit every week." It may fairly be conceded that, in theory, such an institution is invaluable if it is always fully informed of the policy and action of the Indian Government. Can that be affirmed? There have been few, more important measures of that Government since it passed out of the hands of the East India Company into those of the Viceroy and his Council, than the second Afghan expedition in November, 1878. Was the resolution of the Indian Government communicated to the Council of India before that momentous step was taken? The debates on the policy of Lord Lytton's Government may throw some light on the question. If it was not, what becomes of Sir Henry Fowler's argument of the value of the Council of India ? Another example of the imperfect in- formation supplied to that Council, on a very different matter—though one of no small importance, as the event proved—may be adduced. It came to the knowledge of some of the Anti-Opium Association in 1880 or 1881 that a very strong minute, or whatever may be the proper designation of the document, had been addressed to the Viceroy by the then Commissioner for Burmah, the late Sir Charles Aitchison, on the evils inflicted on that province by the licenses for the Bale of opium. On Sir Joseph Pease inquiring in the House of Commons of the then Secretary of State for India. the Marquess of Hartington, if that document would be laid on the table of the House of Commons, he was informed that there was not any such in the India Office here. Either then or subsequently, he promised to inquire for it, and if there was such, to have it forwarded to the India Office. In due coarse it was laid on the table of the House. Its im- portance may be judged of by the fact that it was made the subject of the leading article of the Times the next morning. The opening sentence was very significant, to the effect that an important paper had been laid before the House of Commons which was anything but pleasant reading to the British public. Sir Charles Aitchison had laid much stress, not only on the evils inflicted on the community he had to govern, but on the fact that the Indian Government bad been the means of introducing a new vice where it was unktown before. That minute, followed by others much to the same effect, laid the foundation of a restrictive policy special to Burmah which is in operation at the present day. -Nothing needs to be added to show that if the India Council is to be of the essential service for which it was intended, there should be some security that the fullest information should be furnished to it.—I am, Sir, &c., DAVID MCLAREN. Rydal Rouse, Putney, August lath.
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