INDIAN REFORMS IN THE COMMONS.

AS will have been seen from a Reuter telegram reproduced in these columns yesterday, the discussion on the Indian Reform Bill in what is called the Committee stage opened in the House of Commons on the 3rd instant, before a large gathering, including a number of Indians in the Distinguished Strangers’ Gallery and of Indian ladies in the Public Gallery. As a rule, Indian discussions in Parliament have not in the past drawn a large house, and more often than not have taken place before empty benches. The exception made in this case was undoubtedly due to the novelty no less than the tremendous importance of the theme. Everybody remembers the famous speech in which the most distinguished, the most philosophical and the most scholarly Secretary of State that India has ever had declared that for as long a time as his poor imagination could pierce through for so long a time would India remain under personal and despotic rule. During the decade and a half that has passed since then, the question of India self-government has, indeed, pushed itself to the front, but for the first time in history is the House of Commons now discussing a Bill the preamble to which definitely declares the progressive realisation of responsible government in India, to be the goal of British policy in India and which in its substantive provisions does mark a real, if inadequate, beginning of the process that in its ultimate evolution is to lead India to the promised land. So much for the novelty of the theme. As for its importance, even Englishmen, who are not among the most idealistic in the world, cannot fail to have their imagination stirred by the idea of assisting a highly civilised people, comprising one-fifth of the human race, to realise their God-given destinies, of transferring to them, albeit by too slow process, “the trusteeship of the Government of India”.