Next Lord Hardinge actually proceeded to a direct censure of
the Government of the Union :- "But the most recent developments have taken a serious turn. We have seen the widest publicity given to allegations that passive resistance has been dealt with by measures which would not be tolerated for a moment in any country claiming to be civilized, These allegations have been met by a categorical denial from the responsible Government of South Africa, though even the dsniai contains admissions which do not seem to me to indicate that the Union Government has exercised a very wise discretion in some of the steps it has adopted."
To leave nothing undone in the way of indiscretion, Lord Hardinge finally made suggestions as to how the Government
of South Africa should conduct their internal affairs :—
" That is the position for the moment. I feel that if the South African Government desires to justify itself in the eyes of India and the world the only course open to it is to appoint a strong. impartial Committee, on which Indian interests are fully repre- sented, to conduct a most searching inquiry. You may rest assured that the Indian Government will not cease to urge these considerations on the Imperial Government."
