REFORMED COUNCIL 187 



when the decision was arrived at to confer on 

 India the Reformed Council. 



By inviting the leaders of Indian public opinion 

 to become fellow-workers with us in British ad- 

 ministration, and by securing the representation 

 of those important interests and communities 

 which go to form the real strength of India, we 

 have borne in mind, as Lord Morley has told us, 

 the hopes held out to the people of India in Queen 

 Victoria's Proclamation of 1858. And Lord Morley 

 has added: " We have felt that the political 

 atmosphere of a bureaucracy may become close 

 and confined, and that the admittance of air is 

 beneficial to its health and strength. I defy 

 anyone to show that the admittance of air has 

 been otherwise than beneficial not only to the 

 bureaucracy but also to the leaders of public 

 opinion in this country." It was Lord Morley who 

 expressed the belief that in the fellow-service of 

 British and Indian administrators under a su- 

 preme Government is the key to the future political 

 happiness of this country. I may echo his words 

 and say with him that it is in that belief that I 

 have worked hard for India, and that I have worked 

 hard to make the Legislative Council a success; 

 and when I see around me to-day the repre- 

 sentatives of powerful communities and interests 

 which are represented in that Council, and know 

 that they are here to testify their appreciation of 

 such service as I have been able to render, then 

 indeed I feel that not in vain has the bread been 

 cast upon the waters. 



I can assuredly bear witness that England is 

 reaping, and will continue to reap, her reward 

 for the generous impulse which has conferred on 

 India a Reformed Council and has enabled Indians 

 to voice their opinions with freedom and with 

 authority. 



