MEN AND MEASURES.
ITo ens Enrroa or ems "8ezorson."3 Sue—Some time ago you published various criticisms of the Montagu-Chelmsford Report. It may, even now, interest your readers to know the views of a young Indian in the public service as expressed M. a letter received recently. His correspondent had not heard from him for over five years, and is in no position to help or hurt him officially or socially. I mention this because old traditions and conventions die hard, and the Indian is suspected sometimes of a tendency to say what his hearer wishes to hear. I can certify that in this case the young Indian official is stating his honest opinion without fear or favour.—I am, Sir, Ix., J. D. A- " I wonder what ie going to be the result of the war so far as India is concerned. As to the Montagu Report, what seems to me more important than any reforms is the -question whether there will be the same class of men in the Services after the war as before, and more especially whether there will not be a fallingeifl in the supply of suitable men for the Indian Civil Service. I believe in Pope's 'maxim:
' For forms of government let fools contest; - Whate'er is best administered is best.'
Unless we have good men to run the show, it matters little what form of government is adopted. During the last four
years recruiting for the has been practically suspended. More than that; Oxford and Cambridge have been practically closed as places of education for the Services, and so there will be a lack of men of the old sort for three or four years to come. No doubt the Universities will soon be busy again, but many of the men we needed have given their lives for their country, and many others will not care to return to their studies. Many of your best will be required for the tremen- dous problems awaiting Englishmen in other places than India. Can you spare us the man we want, and want sorely? Or shall we have to be contented with an inferior type P That is what makes me and many of my friends anxious. Change your form of government as mach as you like. A good man, clever humorous, adaptable, will make the best of the tools you give him. What we want is good workmen. If we are to put up with inferior administrators, the social or intellectual inferiors of my contemporaries, then India is in for a bad time, no matter what paper reforms or constitutional changes you introduce. In all countries, honesty and independence of character are recognized and respected. Nowhere.is this more evident than in India. Else the so-called miracle of British rule in India would be very much more of a miracle than in fact it is. The real miracle is that for 150 years Great Britain Lae been able to lend us so many of her best and cleverest eons."
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