The New York herald., 1922-03-12

| the Secretaryship may mean the death
| of certain reforms that have been in
operation only for short time. The
British community in India welcomes
the news that Mr.. Montagu is gone; but
amid the excitement Lord Reading 8
position remains obscure. The well in
formed believe though. that his resigna-
ton Is only a matter Of time.
Prince Leaves This Week.
The Prince of Wales is scheduled to
leave India Friday. after his four
months tour, which was marked by
events unrecorded in the history OF
previous royal visits In India or else
where Many believe his presence has
only aggravated the political atmos-
phere, and it is no secret that there
will be general relief when finally he
departs.
In England there is virtually unani-
nous condemnation OF Mr.. Montagu's
Browning blunder"; and the indication
of a change in the Governments policy
is heralded with the greatest satisfac-
tion. Mr.. Montagu had an audience of
less than $50 persons when he spoke at
noon at Cambridge. There were about
thirty Indian students who, keenly alive
to the gravity OF the situation, waited
two hours to be admitted to the hail. Mr..
Montagu's speech, it developed, was
something more than q defense 1t was
criticism OF the Government, particu-
Iarly of Lord Curzon, whom the speaker
accused Of writing him zone of those
plaintive. hectoring. bullying and COM
planning letters which are so familiar
to his colleagues and friends" He de-
clared Lord Curzons policy In India was
one of missed opportunities and bungied
undertakings"
Mr. Montagu said he never thought
that the telegram from India was a
matter for discussion in the Cabinet,
when it had been in the hands of the
members Of the Cabinet since Friday.
and there was a meeting of the Cabinet
on Monday-Mr. Lloyd George was abb
sent sick--which could have passed
upon the publication of the message. He
said he told Lord Curzon Saturday
that he had authorized its publication.
Mr.. Montagu described Mr. Lloyd
George as n dictator a wizard, a genius
and an eccentric and spoke of the col
lapse OF the Government being danger
ously near" He said the Premier had
presented the die-hards with his head on
charger. He offered to resign his seat
in the House Of Commons and then he
urged the Indians not to believe that
the Governments anger with him would
involve any disregard of their views.
He said there still was hope and urged
India to exercise patience.
Denies Making Breach.
| Referring to the charges that he had
| broken faith, Mr.. Montagu said: The
accusation Of breach of the doctrine
of Cabinet responsibility-by the Prime
Minister OF all men in the worlds SO
laughable that 1t Is grotesque What
are the circumstances? The head OF
our Government at the present moment
| is a great, IL eccentric, genius whose
contribution to the wellbeing Of his
| country and the world had been 80 well
| advertised as to require no stress by
me; and whose achievements are SO we'll
known that he has demanded the price
which 1t Is the power of every genius
| to demand: and that price has been the
total, complete and absolute disappear
ance of the doctrine of Cabinet respon-
sibility ever since he formed his Gov
ernment. Wizard that he is, out Of the
| cupboard in which he has locked this
doctrine, he brings it out conveniently
and makes me the victim of this new
| creed.
| I'VE have been governed by q great
/ genius--a dictator. He has come to
epochmaking decisions over and over
again, and 1t Is notorious that IL the
decision came to the knowledge Of the
Cabinet. it came only at a time when
they could make no effective use Of their
knowledge"
Mr.. Montague said that whatever the
Government particularly might do. the
British people, he was convinced. were
sympathetic above everything with the
Indian people, and at the hands OF the
British people India would win.
LONDON, March IL ASSOCIATED Press).
Edwin S. Montagu In his speech to-
day showed no penitence ror the publ
cation Of the Earl of Readings dispatch
and scoffed at "the new creed OF collec-
4 tive responsibility Of the Cabinet" He
asserted that he had been ignored on
various occasions by Mr.. Lloyd George
himself and likewise Lord Miner In
connection with the Egypt report, and
by Mr.. Churchill.
Cabinet responsibility is q joke" be
declared. We have been governed by a
great genius. a strategist and dictator,
who. scenting the air while waiting for
pursuit. has thrown over the most incon-
venient cargo"
India, said Mr. Montagu. would win
her appointed destiny Of freedom within
the British Empire, to which there was
no obstacle except disloyalty and nom
cooperation, If an appeal were made to
the British people. He pleaded that
there should be no vacillation in Indian
policy, saying:
I'VE have been spreading Western ed
ucation in India for $50 years Don't
let us turn around now to the Indians
and say We have lost faith in our
democratic institutions and all our
teaching was mistake"
MY disappearahce," said Mr.. Mon
tagu, has nothing to do with the doc
trine Of collective responsibility. 1t Is
an effort to preserve this Government
from the fate that must attend It.
"You know how dangerously near the
Government is TO collapse. The Liberal
members see their colleagues disappear
ing one by one. The Conservatives also
have lot to swallow. The die hards'
have shown in the Indian, as in all other
matters. a complet lack of political
sagacity. They are the most dangerous
element in the political life of this coun-
try. and to them the great genius presid-
Ing over the country's destinies has
given my head on a charger"
Mr.. Montagu said he had never been
able to understand the motive for the
Prime Minister'S pro-Greek policy. II
do not think II Is in the interests Of the
Greeks" he declared, and am certain
ii is calamitous to the British Empire"
Mr.. Montagu told the meeting that H.
ass the result of what he was saying,
"and you wish 1t, my resignation as
N your member il in your hands"