The Washington herald., 1909-02-14
SHADOW ON WHITEHALL.
Why Another VicerOy of India Finds 1t Impossible to
Retain His Magnificent Office.

part OF me efcdI commercial ana luCIS-
trial interests in India, ranging from
Bombay to Burmah, and from TrinchI-
nOpoli to the Afghan border. including
not only English firms OF every kind. but
also the leading native concerns. Parsee.
Moslem, Assoootamisn, Jew. and Hindoo.
demanding OF the British government
clearer vision, stronger nerve, frmer zu-
shority, and more efficient protection, in
the presence OF critical danger
The representative and influential
class IN India felt impeiled by the present
condition OF Affairs 70 go past the vice
roy OF India and his government az Cal
cutta, and to address its petition 10 the
secretary OF state for India at White
haH, thus plainly demonstrating the fact
that It regards. under present circCm-
stances, the g0vsrnor-gene as a mere
puppet, OF no Importance, and as con-
vineed that all authority with regard 10
India IS centeTed in the hands Of the sec
relary Of state for India ar Whitehall.
This being the case. q brief sketch OF
the so-caIled India Office IN London, from
which India is now ruled BY Lord Nor
ley, may be OF timely interest, the more
50 that relatively little IS knovn. even
IN England, Of its constitution Il may
be said TO be the result Of an evolution.
Prior 70 the Indian mutiny, India was
administered in trust for the Crown.
by the chartered concern known as the
Honorable East India Company. The au-
thoTity in those days was vested in the
board OF directors. supervised BY the so
called board Of control, created by Pitts
bill Of I74.
- Er--z -
represent the Crown IN connection with
The directorate OF the East India Com
pany, and consisted OF a president (zho
only subsequent 10 1871 was q member
OF the cabinet, and OF certain other
members Of the administration who held
their seats ex-officio. There Is no record.
however Of their having exercised their
I duties az controllers. and they apparently
relied upon the president OF the court OF
/ control 10 do all that was necessary.
Pitts law gave the president Of the board
OF contro! the power 10 override the board
OF directors II he chose TO exert It.
But II also prescribed that the initia-
tive should rest with the court. and IN
public affairs it Is the man who initiates
VINO has the real power. The directors,
BY their superior knowledge and expert
ence, were able IN routine matters TO ex-
eTcise a serious check on The minister.
After the great mUtiBy OF IS57, which al
most completely wrecked British SOW
eTeignty in India. the chartered East
India Company was legis!ated out Of ex-
istence, and its authority and powers
transferred 10 the newly created de-
paTtment for India. the former president
Of the board OF control developing into
the secretaryship OF state for India
This wss accomplished by means OF a
law enacted by Parliament in IS52 The
latter provided for the establishment OF a
council OF India. composed OF fifteen
members, who receive their appointment
from the secretary Of state. hold Office at
his pleasure, and receive a salary Of
about 5000 or 5000 year.
AZ they are always retired officials OF
the Indian government, and stand 20 lose
not only their well paid seat at the coun-
eli, but likewise their pension, n they
displease the secretary OF state, their ad-
vice is not characterized by very much
independence. nor can they be considered
as any useful check upon the minister.
The secretary. as president Of the coun-
/ ell Of India. has the power 70 decide oues-
! tons on which its members may differ.
and moreover has the right to veto the
decision Of the majority. 1t Is true that
theoretically ne cannot make any grant
OF appropriation OF the revenues OF india
without the concuTrences Of the majority
Of the council. and cannot, save with the
authority OF the council. apply Indian
revenues 20 defray the cost OF military
operations beyond the frontiers OF India.
There are. however. a number Of excep-
tons, indeed, as 10 render the provis-
ions in question nugatOry- For in matter
Of urgency, the secretary OF state may
act alone" And he may or may not af-
terward. take the cJunciI into his con-
idence. The secretary is. therefore.
though nOminaiiy controlled by the c0un-
eli Of India, in no way hampered thereby.
: He can. II he makes a mistake, compel
them 10 shoulder the responsibility. on
the ground that they are his advisers.
I But they are no check upon him what
I soever.
This IS unfortunate. For Il has the e.
! feet OF converting the minister for India
I into something very much akin to az
autocrat The secretary Of state for the
colonies IS restricted in the exercise OF
T his authority by the autonomy and the
independence OF the various colonial gov
ernments. and his action Is virtually con-
I fined to questions Of imperial policy. hav-
! ing no concern with mere local affairs.
I The minister Of foreign affairs. the
chancellor Of the exchequer, the secre-
/ tary Of state for the home department.
( all Of theFa are compelled TO DO their
work. so TO speak, under the immediate
! supervision and control OF press and Par
I liment- But the secretary OF state for
India IS virtually uncontrolled. The
press until recently has taken relatively
I little interest IN Indian affairs. as COM
I pared 10 issues OF a more domestic char
acter, ana the same may be said OF Par
/ lament In fact, providing certain popu-
/ lar views and prejudlces represented II
I the imperial legislature at Westminster
! are observed. the secretary Of stare for