BRITISH CAUTION igi 



want of faith. Do not suppose for a moment 

 that we are going to be false to our word. It is 

 not this which is taking place, however much 

 at times it may wear that outward appearance. 

 Believe me, it is simply the working out of our 

 somewhat stolid English nature, which has made 

 political caution a part of our very blood. We 

 cannot change our nature any more than you can 

 change yours. You are much quicker emotionally 

 than we are: you are a very emotional people: 

 you are in many respects also intellectually quicker. 

 That is your nature and you may well be proud of 

 it. But try to understand ours: for we also are 

 proud of our nature. We do wish to be absolutely 

 honourable in our conduct towards India. That is 

 a part of our conception of an English gentleman. 

 But you will always find us politically hesitating 

 and almost overcautious. We test one step, 

 time after time, before we take another; and even 

 then we are not satisfied and fear we have been 

 imprudent. That is our nature: it has become 

 a kind of political creed with us, what the poet has 

 called 



" Freedom slowly broadening down 

 From precedent to precedent." 



Again my counsel is this: Do not be surprised 

 at all this caution, but expect it from us and never 

 look for anything else, or you will be disappointed. 



And I would add, if you will allow me as your 

 friend and guest to-night, a word of personal 

 explanation, a confession of my own faith about 

 India. It is this: If I were convinced, from my 

 five crowded years of Indian experience, that this 

 English political caution which is a part of pur 

 English nature were standing in the way of India's 

 progress, then I should be a pessimist. But 

 am nothing of the kind. On the contrary, I 

 believe that this very quality of English nature is 



