Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-13

other designations are pending. but it
Is considered quite possible that fur
- Their developments may occur on the
return of the king to the capital. 1t Is
understood that Premier Lloyd George
and Mr. Chanlberlain's collea CUES have
done their best to persuade him to
withdraw his resignation, but without
avail.
Sympathy for Chamberlain.
Great sympathy is felt for Mr.. Cham
berlain, who is regarded as the victim
of the peculiar Indian administrative
system. Mr.. Chamberlain made the
announcement himself in the house In a
speech defending his position as af-
fected by the commis sion's report. The
report has proved severe blow to the
government. which had to make a fur
Their concession to popular resentment.
After a debate extending throughout
the evening, which revolyed mainly
around the form the judicial inquiry
should take-strong criticisms being
voiced that the tribunal suggested by
the government was mere white
washing and shelving procedure to pro-
tect the statesmen who came under the
commissions condemnation-Mr. Bal
four, secretary for foreign affairs, an
nounced that the government was will
ing to set up tribunal by statute COM
petent to deal with both soldiers and
civilians, instead of an inquiry tribunal
as already proposed.
Defend Statesmen.
Speeches in the house of lords by the
MARQUIS of Crewe, Earl Curzon the
MARQUIS Of Lansdowne and others, were
largely Of an apologize character, de-
Tending the irnpunged statesmen on the
ground of their loyal services to the
empire, their well intentioned zeal and
the great difficulties they had to face
under exceptional circumstances and
the handicap of the peculiar Indian adj
ministratfve system.
Baron Hardinge especially found
jealous defenders in both the lords and
commons. Sir Mark Sykes. uniontst
for Hull, caused sympathetic demon
STATIONS in the commons by remind
ing the house of Lord Hardfnges long
his life at the Delhi durbar some years
ago, the death of his wife under tragic
circumstances and finally the recent
death of his son in action in France.
Prepared to Set Up Tribunal.
Smith. had early in the debate ex-
planned the motives which induced the
government to propose a judicial In
quiry. He said 1T would have been both
against the officers mentioned in the
commissions report, and it would,
therefore, be unfair to take such ac-
ton against the civilians. But IL the
improper, the government was pre-
pared to set up statutory tribunal
d The speaker of the house at the out
set of the debate. in explaining the
q court-martial nor court Of law, but
merely court of inquiry. where no
person would stand in the position of
defendant.
Mr.. Chamberlain, after abiding to the
difficulty of his position. announced his
resignation Then. referring to the pro-
posed tribunal. he said that there might
be a difference of opinion concerning its
form, but the whole house was unanimous
that a judicial tribunal should try the
question. He announced that the Indian
government had already sent to the i'm
perial government dispatch proposing
reform IN the Indian political system for
adoption after the war. and the govern
ment was giving the matter careful at
tention.
Warmly Defends Himself.
Mr. Chamberlain warmly defended HIM
self and the others against the newspaper
charges OF gambling in the lives of sol
diers for political considerations and ar
gued that they would not have given
orders for an advance unless the military
advisers had recommended it as the proper
course He invited the house to consider
what the commission would have said
had they ignored the advice of the mill
tary experts. He would not say word
in excuse CT the horrible breakdown in
the medical service, but sixteen months
ago he had, through Lord Hardinge,
warned the military authorities of the
possibility of such a breakdown. and had
his warning been acted upon a breakdown
would have been avoided.
Upno1ds Lord Hardinge.
Defending Lord Hardinge he said that
the grave charge the commission had to
bring against him was that he trusted
too implicitly in military affairs to the
military advisers and failed to use his
great authority to overrule them He
declared 1t would be an evil day for
the country II. on account of errors of
judgment, for which others were equal
y responsible. a great public servant
should be bounded out of public life
without trial hearing in answer to
the clausor OF an ill-inforn1ed and pas
s!oaate mob.
Mr.. Balfour said II was inevitable
when such unfortunate events occurred
that there should be a passionate de-
sire that some one be punished, but II
was the business of parliament to see
that that natural desire should never
exceed the bounds of strict justice 1t
was their duty to see that IL did not
rush them over some cataract of public
immortality. which they must regret
Immediately after. and historians for
all time. He had the prem'er's permits