SIMLA AND CALCUTTA 127 



From the placidity of Simla the Government 

 suddenly finds itself for the other six months of 

 the year thrust into a vortex of political excite- 

 ment and ferment. What at Simla would be 

 regarded as a " tiresome incident " becomes in 

 Calcutta a " formidable danger," and the Govern- 

 ment feels impelled to do something and to do 

 that something in a hurry. A " strong policy " 

 must be adopted; "repression" is spoken of in 

 lieu of " sympathy," and " hitting back hard " 

 instead of " brotherly hand-shaking " becomes the 

 order of the day. 



These rapid and emotional transitions and the 

 protean changes of policy which usually follow 

 are not good for British rule in India. 



The day, the inevitable day, will come when India 

 will have earned and attained self-government, 

 and then her present difficulties will disappear. 

 Meanwhile, however, we can justly claim that 

 the Government machine is working, and working 

 very fairly well. E pur si muove ! and if we do, 

 it is thanks to the most extraordinary and in 

 some respects wholly admirable machinery evolved 

 by the mind of man. The most remarkable 

 machinery the world has ever seen, not excepting 

 that which enabled the Roman Empire to hold its 

 colonies the Indian Civil Service. It is a living 

 testimony to the stability and love of justice 

 inherent in the English race. It would be pre- 

 sumptuous for me to criticise; it is almost pre- 

 sumption on my part to express admiration for a 

 Service which is unique, which has made India 

 what it is, and which I have blind confidence will 

 help to make India what it should and will be 



