INDIA'S NEW CAPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 203, 24 February 1912, Page 5

INDIA'S NEW CAPITAL.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. LORD CURZON CRITICISED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 23, 9.30 p.m. London, February 23. In the House of Lords Lord Minton (ex-Viceroy of India) said the Government did not appreciate the grave issues of removing the capital. Lord Ampthill attributed Lord Curzon's action to resentment at what he considered a reversal of his policy. Lord Morley (Secretary for .India) said it was clear that the Government had satisfied public opinion in India, where the proposals were warmly received, and that Lord Curzon's remarks were not justified from his authority and experience of India. Lord Lansdowne said that many, both here and in India, had grave doubts of the wisdom of the new policy, but once it was decided upon they should do nothing to interfere with its success. The matter then dropped. Lord C'urzon said the step had been taken'on the initiative of a Viceroy who had only been in India a few months, without consultation with those r's,wnsible for the government of India frr twenty-five years. Not a single representative body in India favored the policy. He feared the removal of the capita; would be more serious for the country than for Calcutta. It was undesirable from the military standpoint, and there was danger in making the Gowrrrntnt more bureaucratic. He condemned the new policy, and said the Bengal agitation was dead.