CHAPTER II.

The Simla Session.

In last year's Report the key-note of the year in politics was stated to be apathy. The remark was true, but the apathy displayed was not the apathy of utter indifference to politics. It was partly an inevitable revulsion from the unhealthy excitement of the long-drawn non-co-operation campaign, and also, as events of the last few months have clearly shown, from the unprofitable policy of the Swaraj Party. The progress of the Swarajists between the Delhi Session of 1924 when they first entered the legislatures and the Delhi Session of 1925, away from their purely wrecking policy and in the direction of a constitutional opposition has already been briefly mentioned. Beyond any question, their change of heart was due to a growing consciousness in the electorate that what India needed was construction and not destruction. The truth is that the influence of opinion and events, both inside and outside the legislatures, was forcing the Swarajists to co-operate with the Government to the demonstrable advantage of their country. Shortly before the beginning of the Simla Session, Pandit Motilal Nehru had accepted a seat on the Indian Sandhurst Committee and one of the earliest acts of the Assembly during the Simla Session was of truly historic importance, these words being used with a full sense of their value. This was the election of one of the outstanding leaders of the Swaraj Party, Mr. V. J. Patel to be President of the Indian Legislative Assembly-the Indian counterpart, that is, of the Speaker of the House of Commons. The Government of India Act had laid down that at the end of the first four years of the life of the new constitution, the first nominated President should be replaced by a President chosen by the Assembly itself from among its elected members. The election was, accordingly, made Saturday the 22nd of August, and resulted as stated in the elec tion of Mr. Patel. The election was most cordially received in the Assembly, the leaders of every section of opinion joining in congratulating the new President, most heartily and the chorus of congratulation was swelled by every responsible newspaper in

the country. Mr. Patel's speech in which he thanked the Assembly for their warm reception of his election is reproduced in an appendix and should be read in full because of the intrinsic interest which it possesses owing to its frank and personal character and also because of its political importance. In view of the controversy between Mr. Gandhi and Dr. Suhrawardy, the new President's remarks on the attitude which he intended to adopt towards officials are very interesting.

The Session thus opened in somewhat piquant circumstances, and the Agenda, which comprised such items as a Government Resolution recommending the acceptance of the principle underlying the Majority Report of the Reforms Enquiry Committee of 1924, (better known as the Muddiman Committee) another, in the Council of State, relating to Indians in South Africa, a Government Resolution relating to the protection of the Indian Steel Industry, and a large and varied list of Bills, promised no lack of interest.

The inaugural ceremony focussed the attention of all India, for, despite the previous pronouncement by Lord Birkenhead, the belief still persisted in some quarters that Lord Reading would make an announcement of exceptional political importance. The public galleries were crowded long before the Viceroy's arrival, and on the floor of the Chamber representatives of all shades of opinion, Swarajists and occupants of the Government Benches alike, met each other in friendly greeting. The attendance of members was very good, all parties in the Chamber being well represented.

A great part of the Viceroy's speech was devoted to recent events in India. The personnel of the long-demanded Currency Commission was announced, and a further announcement which caused the widest interest was also made. This was that India's "greatest Industry," agriculture, was to receive more sustained support at the hands of the Government and that an All-India Agricultural Organization was to be established which, it was hoped, would play a notable part in further increasing the wealth of the cultivator.

Turning to the question of Indians Overseas, His Excellency referred to their position in South Africa and stated that his Government was watching the situation closely and was still im communication with the Government of South Africa.