In the Report, stage of the Indian Councils Bill in
the House of Commons on Monday Lord Ronaldshay moved an amendment to the effect that the relative proportion of Mohammedan to Hindu representation on. all representative bodies should be fixed by executive authority, and that in every case where a seat assigned to the Mohammedans was to be filled by election, the electorate should be composed exclusively of Mohammedans. The amendment was ultimately withdrawn after a discussion in which Mr. Hobhouee declared that the Viceroy's telegram had been misunderstood, and assured the supporters of the amend- ment that wherever possible elections would be conducted on the basis of separate representation for the Mohammedan community. This assurance was welcomed by Mr. Balfour, who, however, expressed the desire to see thie principle embyclied in the Bill. As it stood, it contained nothing which would prevent a future Administration from granting undue representation to the Hindus.
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