THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY DEBATE

THE summary of the censure debate in the Legislative Assembly, which is now available to us, though it adds to one’s knowledge in several important respects, does not modify the impression made on one’s mind by the first report. We now know that although a substantial majority of the members rejected the motions before the House, a considerable proportion of this majority consisted of European and official members. We cannot say what the strength of the official element was but there were at least 24 Europeans among those who voted against the motion. So far as non-official Indian members, therefore, were concerned, both Dr. Gour and Mr. Ishwar Saran had a clear majority in their favour. We do not draw attention to this point as a matter of constitutional importance—after all Europeans and officials are as much entitled to vote so long as they are in the Council as any Indian members—but as having a distinct moral value. The Government must see that in the Council, the majority of educated and patriotic Indians are in favour of their abandoning the present policy. This is an aspect of the matter which no wise Government can ignore. What makes it necessary for the Government to take this point into their serious consideration is the fact that none of those who thus recorded their opinion against the present policy are non-co-operators—they would not have been in the Council if they had been—while the vast majority of them have no sympathy with any of the aggressive aspects of non-co-operation, certainly none with civil disobedience. That such men should join with the vast majority of Liberal and independent public men outside the Council in demanding a reversal of the present policy could only show that it is the duty of Government to reconsider the whole position.

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