On Thursday, the Statutory Commission led by Sir John Simon
left London for India. At a luncheon at the AldWych Club on Tuesday Sir John Simon spoke cautiously, but on the whole hopefully, of the prospects. He said that the Commission could best act as the inter- preters of Indian needs if Committees of Indians elected by the Provincial Legislatures were associated with them in every Province. It was a deep satisfaction to know that in spite of much opposition at first this scheme had been generally approved. But the Commission had gone further than that, and had secured the appointment of a Central Indian Committee, chosen in part by the Council of State, and in part nominated from the Central Legis- lature by the Viceroy. This Committee would accompany the Commission throughout their tour. The Commission took up their work deeply impressed with the importance of understanding the Indian point of view. The response to the invitation of the Commission for memoranda and comments had been very satisfactory. About 500 memoranda had been received. The Commission had already studied carefully the ably written document containing a draft constitution for India which had been sent by the " All-Parties Conference." Finally, Sir John Simon said with justice that the Indian question was likely to become the greatest of all the attempts to reconcile authority and freedom.
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