Lord Birkenhead and the Swarajists

WE do not think there is any truth in the statement of a political correspondent of the Indian Daily Mail that Pandit Motilal Nehru is at present opposed to the idea of the Swarajists revising their programme and policy so as to make it possible for them to accept office, “because he expects Lord Birkenhead to make an important announcement in favour of appointing a Royal Commission when Parliament opens in November, and the Pandit wants to maintain his present attitude till that time.” The Pandit’s opposition to the acceptance of office by his party has always been based on a more solid ground, and there is no reason to believe that his position has undergone a substantial alteration during the last few weeks. Nor is it to be believed that the mere appointment of a Royal Commission, unless that commission was, in the words of MA Jinnah, truly representative of Indian opinion as regards its personnel and acceptable in its terms of reference, would be regarded by Motilal Nehru and his party as constituting that generous gesture, which alone would make them think of cooperating with the government. But while we cannot accept the statement of this correspondent regarding the Pandit at its face value, there is no doubt that in many quarters, some of them altogether irresponsible, an expectation is entertained that Lord Birkenhead will make an important statement. Lord Reading’s term of office is nearing its completion, and it is by no means improbable that His Excellency is anxious to partially, if not wholly, recover the ground he has lost in this country by a bold stroke of statesmanship.