The Simon Commission
1111PStatutory Commission have returned from their reliminary survey in India, and the statement made by Sir John Simon is by no means discouraging. He thinks that the visit of the Commission has done " a great deal of good," and that the prospect of a boycott is not so formidable as it was.
However that may be, it is an unfortunate fact that moderates as well as extremists—Liberals and Responsiv- ists as well as the uncompromising leaders of the Congress —still threaten a boycott. Against this threat may be placed the fact that masses of non-politically-minded people, including a great many Moslems and the depressed ;classes among the Hindus, are not only ready, but anxious to lay their opinions and grievances before the Commis- sion. It seems highly possible that when the intransi- geants see others rushing in to give evidence they will be seized with a wholesome fear lest the whole ground should be occupied to their disadvantage. They may then rush in themselves. But though that is not an improbable outcome of the policy of boycott, it is useless to pretend that it would be satisfactory. After all, whatever modi- fications or new reforms are recommended will have to be worked by willing people. Men who feel that they have yielded to circumstances and not to conviction cannot be depended upon to •get good results out of any machin- ery. It must be hoped, 'therefore, that Sir John Simon and his colleagues will still be able by sheer force of persuasion to convince those who are now unwilling that they have- everything to gain and nothing to lose by co-operation.
It. is.not easy for the British mind to enter into that of the Indian politician, yet understanding, even when approval cannot be -bestowed, is indispensable._ The Indians profess to be injured because India "as a nation" was slighted by the appointment of a purely Parliamen-: tary Commission. We have given our reasons- several times for believing that an exclusively Parliamentary Commission was inevitable. Parliament alone has the power to extend or modify the present Indian system. Therefore a report upon which Parliament may found its decision can come logically and properly only from a Parliamentary body. If India were really a nation nothing would have been easier than to create a single Indian Commission to sit jointly with the Parliamentary Commission. The immense variety of languages, races, creeds and interests• in India, however, forbade that course. An adequate representation of India would have run into a membership of hundreds. • We are sure that the Government took the right course in insisting on an exclusively Parliamentary Commission but at the same time promising the Indians that every conceivable opportunity would be given to them for making known their views. Opportunities will be given even up to the last moment, for when the Joint Committee 9f both Houses of Parliament is drafting a Bill Indians will be able to send their deputations. Such forces of national cohesion as there are in India have been provided by Britain herself. The bond of the English language, the network of railways, roads and other communications, have brought together, so far as they have been brought together, the disparate races that inhabit India. If ,a fault can be found with the procedure of the British Government it is that the exposition of the reasons for a purely Parliamentary Commission was delayed till just before the composition of the Commission wais announced.
The Commission, although they represent all British political parties, have returned unanimous. No step was taken except by common consent. And one very impor- tant step was taken. Sir John Simon invited representative bodies in India to form Committees which can sit with the Commission " on equal terms." This approaches as nearly as can be to the Indian ideal of equal representation on the Commission. So far three Provinces, as well as the Council of State, have accepted the invitation. The offer stands. We sincerely hope that other Committee's will be formed. It seems utterly opposed to common sense that they should not be. The duty of the Commis"- sion is to give to Parliament without fear or favour a report on the fitness of Indians to govern themselves. How will India gain if, after all, the Commission have to tell Parliament that when the test of capacity was applied the principal Indians withheld all information ? The Commission are bound in honour and duty to paint a true picture. The colours that will be placed on the canvas will come from Indian hands.
Indian national pride detects offences where they were never intended. It may not be too much to hope that Indians will detect a proof of the Commission's indepen- dence in the arrangement by which the Commission will henceforth have their headquarters at the Law Courts. The preliminary work was done at the India Office, but the Commission now slip from under the patronage of a Department, and by the possession of their own offices signify that they will present their own conclusions and not those of anybody else.
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