24 FEBRUARY 1912, Page 3

In the House of Lords on Wednesday Lord Curzon opened

the debate upon the changes in Indian administration which were announced by the King at the Durbar. The first part of his speech Lord Curzon devoted to a criticism of the method in which the changes were announced, which he pro- nounced unconstitutional. He next proceeded to criticise the changes themselves, devoting special attention to what he described as the reversal of the partition of Bengal. He expressed himself also as strongly opposed to the removal of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. Lord Crewe replied at length to the various points raised. He assured the House that the policy was not decided upon in a hurry, for the matter had first been raised more than a year ago, and had since then been the subject of close thought.