New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
I'm Bitter Speech to Com
stituents, OustedMinister
Assails Lloyd George as
"a Wizard and Dictator''
Removal Laid to
Conservative Plot
Calls Curzon's Policy One
of 'Bungled Undertake
ings'; Defends Reading
By Arthur S. Draper

From The Trtbune's European Burecu
Copyright 1922 New York Tribune Inc)
LONDON, March 11-Edwin S. Mon
tagu, deposed Secretary for India, took
advantage of the crisis in that coun-
try's affairs to day in a speech before
his constituents at Cambridge, to de-
fend his action in giving publicity to
the letter from the Earl of Reading,
Viceroy Of India, appealing for Near
East settlement.
In an extremely bitter speech, far
more violent than had been expected
he said frankly what he thought of the
British Cabinet in general and of Lloyd
George and Lord Curzon, Foreign Sec
retary, in particular. He called the
Premier "a wizard, dictator and strate
gist, scenting the air." He character
lied Lord Curzon as "a writer of plain
tive, hectoring, bullying, complaining
letters with a policy of missed oppor-
tunities and bungled undertakings"
Montagu revealed that the British
Cabinet had seen the controversial let
ter from Lord Reading before it's pub
lication. 1t had been placed in the
hands of members of the ministry sew
eral days before publication and
Lord Curzon had been informed twen-
ty-four hours in advance that the India
was still time to prevent publication,
Montagu said, but the Foreign Secre-
tary made no effort in that direction.
Montagu admitted that the Cabinet
had not given its permission to have
the letter published, but the former
Secretary for India defended his &C
tion on two grounds-that there was
nothing new in the demands set forth
and that Lord Reading was mo chilo
in public affairs" and was entitled to
have the permission to publish the let
ter. which he had requested
The speaker laughed scornfully at
the policy of collective responsI-
bility" of the Cabinet, asserting that
there never had been any such colec-
tive burden and that his resignation
was nothing more than a conspiracy
among the Conservatives to oust him.
Charging that the Premier was pro-
Greek in his Near East policy, Montagu
said that he did not believe his own
downfall would alter that policy in the
slightest.
LONDON, March II (By The Asso-
ciated Press) you know how danger
ously near the government is to col
lapse" said former Secretary Montagu
in his speech to-day. "The Liberal
members see their colleagues disap-
pearing one by one. The Conservatives
also have a lot to swallow The die
hards' have shown in the Indian, as in
oil NtH ,1ofo ootr of
political sagacity. They are the most
dangerous element in the political life
of this country, and to them the great
genius presiding over the country's
destinies has given my head on a
charger"
Montagu said he was convinced his
policy for the development of India
was "the right and the only policy"
The governments Middle East policy,
continued Montagu, had brought about
a position OF the gravest character IN
India. The Mussulmans were entitled
to know of the efforts made in their
behalf by the government, and the Brit
ish public also was entitled to know
what the Indian government thought on
this important question.
the result of what he was saying, land
you wish it, my resignation as your
member is in your hands"
To this the audience shouted, mol"
If the government, declared Montagu,
had made public the message he sent
to India authorizing publication OF the
Indian telegram it would have been
made clear to the world that he recog-
nized that the government had to con,
slider wider interests than India. Lord
Curzon little realized the disastrous
effects of his own policy upon India,
continued the speaker, who added;
at was policy of missed opportu-
mites and bungled undertakings"
Montagu declared he had worked and
hoped and waited for the best in India.
He had often been upon the verge of
resignation, but had hesitated in order
that the Indian Mohammedans should
not think the solemn pledges made to
them had been irretrievably broken
He urged the Indians to believe that
the governments anger with him would
not involve disregard of their views.
(cauttnued on neft naoe(