Not many, I suppose, of the thousands of people who
pass weekly through St. Stephen's Hall on their way to the Central Lobby of the House of Commons stop to study the eight frescoes which line the walls. Those who do may take note of one picture of a European surrounded by the gorgeous trappings of an Oriental court. The inscription underneath it runs:
" Sir Thomas Roe, Envoy foam King James the First of Eng-
land to the Moghul Emperor, succeeds by his courtesy and firm-
ness in laying the foundation of British influence in India, 1614." Read in a week•in which the Commons are debating the Govern- ment's decision to evacuate India next year the legend sets the mind ranging the whole horizon from sunrise to sunset. That is true whether the Government's resolve is intrinsically right or wrong. * *
Previous page
