COST OF THE ARMY 113 



Those on important resolutions on public ex- 

 penditure and the tariff, the cost of the Army, 

 Hindoo marriage law, sanitation, railways, and 

 notably on Excise cotton duties, sedition, and 

 education, have been excellent, and indicate 

 careful and even profound study of the subjects 

 dealt with. 



The danger ahead appears to lie in a demand for 

 exaggerated expenditure on education, and espe- 

 cially for a reduction in the cost of the Army, 

 as to which all Indians are very sensitive. 



They contend that a larger Army is maintained 

 than the needs of India justify, and whilst willing 

 to supply troops for expeditions undertaken for 

 the welfare of India, they bitterly resent having to 

 maintain in peace-time an Army the strength of 

 which is fixed by the policy that Indian troops 

 should always be available for wars undertaken for 

 the benefit of England. 



In the event of a big Imperial War I am abso- 

 lutely certain that India would cheerfully bear 

 almost any burden, but wars such as the South 

 African War will strain their loyalty. This was 

 made abundantly evident during the debate on 

 the strength and cost of the Army. 



Mr. Gokhale " rubbed in " that General Bracken- 

 bury, who had been Military Member of Council, 

 stated in 1897 in his evidence before the Royal 

 Commission on Indian Expenditure that the 

 strength of the Indian Army was in excess of Indian 

 requirements, and that the Army Commission of 

 1879, of which Lord Roberts was a member, held 

 that the strength of the Indian Army 60,000 

 British and 120,000 Indian troops was sufficient 



