Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-28
EAST INDIANS ARE GIVEN
SHARE IN RULING LAND
Conditions Auspicious for Working
Ont Plan Being Developed
by Great Britain.
GOOD EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Lord lslington Says One.Third OF
Total Area and One-Fifth Of Popu-
lation Are Under Administration
Of Ruling Princes.

He'bCh shAo An
OF Ruling Princes.
LONDON. May 2~s.-Conditions never
before were so suspicious for the de-
v%elopmcnt of the plan to give the in
habitants of India a larger share in
the government of their vast empire,
Lord IslinEton. Cnder-Secretary for
India. declared TO the Associated Press
correspondent. The hrst-hand inform
alton supplied by Lord Islington was
Intended to dispel the justification pre-
vailing in some quarters over tho
loyalty Of India to Great Britain dur
ing the great war.
Lord lsl!ngton, AS Sir John Poynder
Dickson-PoyUder. was "A talented ad-
miHistrator before being raised to tho
peerage. in 1910. He Is perhaps tho
hest authority in public life to-day on
the subject Of India. He was president
Of the Royal Commission on the Public
Services In India. is a former Governor
of New Zealand. and as recently as n
year ago was Un~der-Secretary Of State
for the Colonies. in which capacity his
knowledge OF India again proved a
great asset 70 the British empire.
One Of the interesting subjects dis
cussed by Lord IslinGton concerned
American missionaries In India. some
OF whom have reported favorably and
others adversely regarding British rule
there. He paid a pleasing tribute TO
the accomplishments of these Amcri-
cans. and said h" was glad 70 note that
their number was increasing.
Lord lexington emphasized the Of
:ectiveness Of tho complete system OF
education now provided in India. This
instruction is free. but not compulsory.
and extends through all the villages
and towns and cities, for children Of al!
ages. Including those IN universities.
Both the extent and the character OF
so-called scdition In India had been
exaggerated ny those who had had no
opportunity 90 knowing conditions :nti-
mate!y. Lord 1slinEton declared.
r. GIVEN sHAnE IN
MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS
People who speak Of the emanci-
patton Of India and tho need for
autonomous rule are usually those who
Know the least OF wha, is being done
there said Lord %IsiinGton. They
don't know even tho outline Of how
far self-eovernment has actually been
carried. that for "a century past it has
been Great Britain's declared policy To
give the Indian people a larger share
IN Inc rtltEtI,eN' OF NltIlC affairs
and TO educate them for this PC
until to-day about oae-,hird Of the
total area and one-ffth Of the popu-
lat!or Of $4,000. 900 persons are under
the direct administration. not Of the
government Of India. hut OF the ruling
princes and chiefs. who make their
own laws, levy their own taxes, and
appoint their own judges and officials.
Thus in these vast territories the adj
mlnisrra,ion is Indian.
Then. again, these critics seem TO
leave out OF account tho vast work
that is constantly going on 10 pro-
mote the active association Of the
governed with the government, such as,
for instance. that affecting British
India. As the people become better
educated. more and more Indians have
been employed in the government SER
vice. being given higher and higher
posts. For years entrance 10 the
Indian civil service has been by com
p+t!t!ve examination for both English
men and Indians. These examinations
are held IN England. ard conducted in
such a way. 81 course, that the best
equipped men, regardless Of origin. get
the positions Indians have progressed
60 we'll In taking their responsibility in
government that they have been ad-
rn!t,ed TO the councils OF the Niceroy
and governors.
The Development in this respect has
been especially marked since the CON
stitut!onal reforms OF 1879. associated
With the names Of Lord Morley and
Lord Minto. BY these reforms the
legislative councils OF India, Of which
there are now ten zone attached 10 the
central government and one TO each
Of the big p~rovinces). were enlarged
greatly and their functions materially
extended. The size OF the councils
was nearly trchled. In place Of thirty
nine elected members there are now
NOR than 10, and, whereas tho cleo
torates OF the old councils had only
,the right 10 recommend the candidate
OF their choice for appointment by the
head OF the an elected
member of the new council sits as of
" right.
PRIVILEGE OF ELECTING
REPRESENTATIVE GRANTED
Not only are administrative bodies
permitted to elect representatives 10
the councils. but the privilege has been
granted also TO the land-holding and
commercial communities, to the univer-
stiles and to special Mohammedan cleo
torates. Under the old regulations
officials were in a majority in every
council. now there must be n nonoffcial
majority in all OF the provincial coun-
ellis, while in Bengal and Bihar-Orissa