MEETINGS OF COUNCIL 115 



the impending changes, and that I believed that 

 the inevitably increased and more searching 

 criticism would not be the outcome of any desire 

 to embarrass a Finance Minister honestly striving 

 to do his duty. I am bound to say that my anti- 

 cipations have proved correct. I have found the 

 criticisms of the non-official members temperate, 

 suggestive, and friendly in tone. The free inter- 

 change of views which the reformed and conse- 

 quently enlarged Council stimulates, is becoming 

 a powerful factor for good in the financial policy 

 of India. 



So far all goes well ; but it is idle to suppose and 

 childish to expect that educated Indians will long 

 tolerate a system which grants their political 

 representatives the right and the power to discuss 

 almost any proposal, to formulate reasonable 

 demands, to agree in regard to them, and then to 

 have them crushed out of existence by the mechan- 

 ical vote of a large official majority. 



Since Lord Hardinge assumed the reins of office 

 the weekly meetings (an unwritten but well- 

 recognised rule ignored by Lord Minto) have been 

 resumed with immense advantage to the Govern- 

 ment and the country. There is now continuity 

 and correlation in administration and a fuller 

 sense of responsibility in the members of the 

 Supreme Council. They now are better able to 

 control their Departments and government by 

 bureaucracy has been reduced. Hardinge governs 

 with and through his Council instead of outside 

 it, with the result that he can absolutely count on 

 support in time of need. 



Having been Private Secretary to five or six 



9 



