June 7
Almost the final act of the National Government in its present form was to secure the passage of the India Bill through the House of Commons. The next stage, before the Bill is placed on the statute book, will, presumably, be expeditiously handled in the House of Lords, where ripe experience of former Viceroys and Secretaries of State, to say nothing of members of the Joint Committee will be available to testify to the momentous character of the proposals now virtually accepted by Parliament. Opposition to the measure has come from the Labour Party who have taken the view that the Constitution should be so framed as to need no further Parliamentary sanction for its development. A strong section of Conservative supporters of the Government headed by Mr. Winston Churchill has opposed the Bill in the opposite sense: that it entails too rapid an advance in Indian self-government. Both these views have been effectively presented during the course of the discussions in the House of Commons, but, naturally, more attention has been drawn to the Conservative opposition, reinforced as it has been by vigorous and not too scrupulous propaganda in certain organs of the press. The House itself has displayed good sense and good taste in dealing with the Bill and has shown a lively appreciation of the overwhelming importance of its provisions. So, although at the outset there was a disposition to be highly critical of the Government's plan, even though it had received em-photic endorsement from the Joint Committee, it soon became apparent that growing acquaintance with the technical complexities of far-reaching constitutional me: sure, sobered reflection strengthened the—Government's position.
Sir Samuel Hoare's pertinacious good-temper deserves a warm tribute for the undoubted success thus achieved. To have piloted 8 Bill of such magnitude through the House in the face of a stout, if not numerically formidable opposition and to have done so without Tecourse to the guillotine was in itself a parliamentary feat. And, in the final stage, Sir Samuel was fortunate in being able to congratulate the House on the spirit and dignity displayed. So it is fitting to give credit to the Opposi-Aion of both party complexions for its ce-operation in framing India's new constitution, Leaving out of account certain unfortunate lapses "amainly due to Mr. Winston Churchill's irrepressible affection for mares' nests and to a certain journalistic craving for "stunts' the criticism to which the Bill has been subjected in the House has been definitely beneficial. It may Lave effected few actual changes, but it has indicated the grave sense of responsibility with which the Mother of Parliaments has discharged her duty: to the Indian Empire and to the vast population within its borders. Whether Sir
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.