That Lord Irwin's splendidly temperate and sym- pathetic policy is
at last being properly appreciated is perhaps the one bright spot in a horizon otherwise dark. In his speech at the annual dinner of the European Association on December 22nd, he ridiculed those who favour the policy of " off with his head ! " under present • conditions, but there is no doubt that European opinion in India is now almost solid behind him. No one could have spoken more strongly on the Viceroy's side than Sir Thomas Catto, Managing Director of Messrs. Andrew Yule and Co., Calcutta. He strongly repudiated on behalf of the business community Mr. Churchill's recent wild words. The poll - taken by the Times of India in Bombay before Christmas was surely significant. On the question of immediately granting Dominion status to India, with responsible-government at the centre and safeguards, there were 818 favourable and only 165 hostile replies. • • *
Previous page
