Congress and Office Though it is still premature to assume
definitely that Congress will accept office in Iniia in those provinces where it holds a majority, the probability that that will happen increases daily. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is still hostile to the idea, but Mr. Gandhi favours it, and the Congress Working Committee has devised a serviceable formula recommending acceptance of office provided "the leader of the Party in the Legislature is able to state publicly that, so long as he and his Cabinet act within the Constitution, the Governor will not use his special powers of interference or set aside the advice of the Ministers." That should be read in the light of the admirable speech in which Lord Linlithgow declared on Monday that it would be the duty and privilege of the Governors of Provinces, and of the Governor-General, to cooperate with provincial Ministers in a spirit of sympathy, helpfulness and collaboration. These are more than words. It is obvious that the first aim of every Governor will be to co- operate to the utmost extent with his ministers and to avoid conflict at any reasonable cost. A good deal may depend on what construction is placed on the words "within the Constitution "in the Congress Working Committee's formula, but if Congress majorities in the provinces desire to take office, as they pretty clearly do, there should be no great difficulty in reaching such agreement with the Governor as would enable them to declare their conditions fulfilled.
