The Cordova daily times., 1917-10-23
BRITISH TO GIVE INDIA A BETTER
 GOVERNMENT

lated by the British government for granting a larger measure of self. government to the people of India were explained to the Associated Press correspondent by Edwin s. Mon. tagu, secretary of state for India. MT. Montagu, who is soon to start for India. said:
 My journey to India is the direct outcome of the governments an nouncement in parliament that it's policy in India is to develop self. governing institutions with a view to the progressive realization of rep resentatiye government.
 Do not misunderstood me. This ideal of ours must be approached by easy stages. The man who thinks that home rule for India is a practical policy is either wholly ignorant of the situation or designedly mischievous. iteps toward responsible government will be taken at different rates by diff ferent parts of India. Great provinces will fit themselves for it at different times. But the great thing is that we are firmly on the path toward the end which we all British and Indian alike, desire.
 'The. measures that we adopt must be adequate. They must show real progress, Wars vast upheaval has stirred all peoples, not only in Russia, not only in western Europe, but in China and India as well. Everybody wants to be assured that the world, their own little world, as well as the big world, is a better world after the war. India, equally with the rest of the world, has a right to demand pro- gress, and real progress.
 80 we are adopting the direct and business-like method - and l am go- ing to India to consult with the peo- pie there and bring back the results of my conferences and inquiries to be
 
 law which shall mean progress in its widest and best sense.
 We have set ourselves avowedly to the enormous task of improving the conditions and life of the people, to guarding them against famine and against wars external and internal so that they might live and learn and develop their great resources unhin- dered and in peace.
 One of the most striking eyidences --~ 'sss-s n. rns1s~~----- ..------s-sr cE, irrigation enterprises. which are even vaster than the greatest of your own enormous irrigation exploits, and which have reclaimed literally thou sands of square miles of desert. But 1t is still country of poverty. The majority of the people live on few rupees a month, and it takes three rupees to make an American dollar. Their country has vast resources awaiting development, but the people are still very poor. Only about ten per cent of the population can read and write.
 "India's greatest terror, the spectre of famine, has practically disappeared owing to irrigation and the develop ment of transport by railway. canal and river. A season of famine. which a generation ago meant hundreds of thousands of deaths. now means only discomfort and strain. AS we have conquered famine, so We shall sur mount the educational difficulties. Electoral bodies have sprung up, and there are in most provinces today councils which have power to pass resolutions and act in an advisory ca- pacity, although they have little re- sponsibility of real power. The mem bers of these legislative units have be- gun to tire of situation in which they are little more than debaters, and we shall be glad to provide food for this developing civic appetite
 To-day the British people have be- gun to realize that India has proved herself worthy of a larger part in the imperial plan. India is now assured of place in all future imperial war conferences.
 Further steps toward responsible government will be taken as a result of my trip to India - steps which I trust will be convincing and satisfying to the great body of educated public opinion in that country"