The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-10
RESERVATION OF
 INDIA SECRETARY
 COMES BY FORCE
India Crisis, Exceeding That Over Premiership, Now Threatens to Involve
 Lloyd George
By Associated Press

London, March s-Edwin Samuel Montague, the secretary for India, resigned that office today. His res- ignation was forced, some 24 hours after the event by the publication yesterday of the dispatch from India which caused such a furore of oon- demnation in the English press-the message from the Earl of Reading. viceroy of India, to MT. Montague setting forth the feeling in India re- garding the necessity for revision of the treaty of Severes between Turkey and the allies.
 The announcement of this new sem sation was made by Austen Cham berlain, the government leader in the House of Commons which was at white heat over the situation and greeted the news with loud and pro- longed cheers
 fui responsibility for the publication of the dispatch and MT. Chamberlain, while not specifically stating that the resignation had been demanded, said the government was unable to recon cile publication of the message on the sole responsibility for India with the collective responsibility of the cabinet
 He made the point that Lord Read ing's dispatch should have been re- garded as confidential. This, %, is the main grievance of the English s.-t contents of the dispatch but the pub lication of what, it is claimed. gives the Indian extremists new lever to be used in their anti-government cam paign and at a time when the situa- tion in India was causing much con- cern.
 Premiership Threatened
 The Indian crisis, which has de- veloped a sensation, exceeding. if anything, the recent crisis over the premiership, threatens to involve the prime minister and the coalition is in still graver difficulties. The res ignation of Edwin & Montague, sec retary for India; has excited such intense manifestations of joy in the die hard" camps that there is an inclination to see some connection between the two crises.
 Moreover. it provokes speculation concerning the position of the vice. roy, Lord Reading, whose action in publishing the Indian governments note is interpreted as an intention to force the hand of the imperial government.
 Lord Reading, desiring to publish the offending document, sought per mission of the secretary for India who technically is his superior. to make the statement public in India. Mfr. Montague, without consulting the cabinent and while the prir- minister was confined to his room i'll. gave permission and Lord Reading had the statement published in India from which country it was telegraphed through the ordinary channels to the British press.
 Mr. Montagues cabinet colleagues take the ground that he should have withheld permission, and simply brought the matter to the attention of the premier and cabinet for their mature consideration.
 Unionist Is Probable
 Nothing is known as yet regarding Mir. Montague's successor or what po- sition Lord Reading holds in the af- fair from the official view point, but it is believed that the next India sec retary will be unionist and prob- ably member of the House of Lords, which would be a concession to the unionists. who are demanding greater influence in the coalition.
 The announcements of Secretary Montague's resignation was received in the House of Commons with fierce welcoming cheers from a majority of the unionists and "die hards'" the latter particularly evincing pleasure. Gossip in the parliamentary Hobbies chiefly occupied itself with specula-
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