The most important Parliamentary event of the week has been
the debate in the House of Commons on the India Office Vote, which was resumed on Thursday, July 5th. It was marked by several excellent and moderate speeches from both sides of the House—notably those of Colonel Howard-Bury and Mr. Hope Simpson —and by the admirable debating " form " shown by the Under-Secretary, Lord Winterton. The attempt to frame a serious indictment against the Viceroy for exercising, in the case of the Salt Tax, the right to ," certify" a Bill as "a measure essential to the safety, tranquillity or interests of British India," despite its rejection by the Chamber, failed : the beneficial effect of his action in securing the first balanced Indian Budget for five years was fully recognized, while the majority of 139 obtained by the Government expressed the sense of the House that the situation in India was distinctly improving.
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