LETTER XV. PARLIAMENTARY YEAR, 



1911 



CALCUTTA, April, 1911. 



THE Parliamentary year which has just closed 

 has unmasked the batteries, and it may interest 

 you to know what impression I have received as 

 regards trouble in the future. 



Generally speaking, the Indian members have 

 given evidence of a marked aptitude for debate, a 

 quite remarkable respect for order, and a courteous 

 attitude beyond praise. 



The two most prominent members are Mr. 

 Gokhale, who is a real power in the Chamber, as 

 he always has been out of it. The other is the 

 absolutely irreconcilable pundit Malaviya. The 

 latter is always a bitter critic unable to recognise 

 any good in anything done or proposed by the 

 Government. Injudicious handling of him will 

 turn him into a source of some danger. 



Mr. Gokhale, on the other hand, has given 

 expression to broad statesmanlike views and is 

 scrupulously fair in debates. His support when 

 it can be obtained is invaluable, for he is a veritable 

 triton among the minnows. 



The Indians as a whole, and almost of necessity, 

 constitute the " Opposition," but their attitude 

 is constructive as well as iconoclastic. 



The quality of the speeches as a whole, is 

 quite up to the standard of most representative 

 Chambers, whilst some are quite above average. 



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