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(2) 'This Council recommends to the Governor-General in Council that a Committee consisting of all the non-official Members of this Council be appointed to consider the Reforms Report and make recommendations to the Government of India.'

The Resolution was, as will be seen, divided into two parts and was separately put. In regard to both parts, there were only two dissentients. Mr. Patel, now a prominent member of the Non-Co- operation party, was one of the two members who voted against the first part. He did not think that the Reform proposals repre- sented a definite advance towards the progressive realization of responsible government. In regard to the second part, two Euro- pean members, namely, Mr. Hogg of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Ironside of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce, recorded their votes against it, though they were present at our Committee meetings and helped us with their advice. Their attitude was due to the absence of any instruction from the Chambers they represented. The European Chambers, as I have stated, are now in full sympathy with the Reforms, and in the Councils their repre- sentatives actively co-operate for its success. In connexion with this Resolution I should like here to quote a passage from my speech, which explains my attitude and that of the Moderate party in regard to the Reforms:

'Taking the Report as a whole, I think it must be conceded that it affords a striking illustration of a change in the angle of vision on the part of our rulers, and I venture to assert that it ought to be accompanied by a similar transformation in our attitude in regard to the Government of the country. If an advance, a substantial advance, towards peace, concilia- tion and popular contentment is made by our rulers, 1 submit that the clearest considerations of common sense and patriotism demand that it should be followed by a similar movement on our side. Adaptability is the law of life, individual and collective. Adaptability is life, the lack of it is death. Adaptability has been the saving principle of our race throughout its long and chequered history, and we should, in pursuance of that eternal law and time-honoured principle, adapt ourselves to our new-born condi- tions. And, my Lord, if I am permitted to interpose a personal remark, I will say this, that opposition to Government has been the watchword of my public life now extending over a period of forty-five years. I claim this—no matter whether it be a merit or demerit—I claim this, that no living Indian politician has been more strenuous, more persistent, in his resistance to the policy and the measures of the Government than I have been. But my Lord, a change—a welcome change—has come over the spirit

of the dreams of our rulers, and they have now stretched out to us the