MR. LYTTELTON DECIDES
The Council of Ministers—" the principal instrument of government "—will consist of eight official members (including the Governor), two nominated European members, and six unoffieials—three European, two Asian, one African. This is certainly not perfect, but it does reflect the political realities of the moment and it is within the context of these realities that the colony must be governed and led out of disunity into peace. The Colonial Secretary has been criticised for his haste in com- ing to a decision. But if he had not made up his mind quickly, and allowed his plan to be bandied about and torn in the pro- cess, discord would probably have grown more discordant. Now it is the task of the Governor to find individuals in the various racial groups who will be willing to take ministerial office. This may not be easy. The Africans maintain their abjection (if somewhat less strenuously), the Indians support thorn, the Muslims demand that they should be given separate representation as such, and it is not yet clear whether the Arabs will be satisfied if one of their number is appointed to the Executive Council. as adviser on Arab affairs. , But the decision has at last been made, the first step hards among the Europeans. To the Africans and the left-wing Indians it seems no more than a bare concession. But to reasonable men who know that politics can only be conducted successfully within the frame of the possible, it is an opportunity to be taken boldly. It is, in fact, the only way out.
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