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 political situation. The Congress-League scheme was drawn up on the basis of an irremovable executive. In all our agitation we had supported the Congress- League scheme. To change, even in one essential, the scheme which was formulated with great care and caution would have opened a flood-gate of amendments and the unity of the Congress would have been weaken- ed by dissensions. Mr. Tilak, therefore, suggested that until the Government scheme of Reforms was out, we should stick to the one which had evoked the unani- mous support of the people. There was time enough to decide, after the Government pubHshed its report on constitutional reforms, whether in the light of the official proposals, the Congress-League scheme should be modified or not.

A welcome step in advance was the insertion of a time-limit in the Resolution of Swaraj.

While Mr. Tilak was straining every nerve to collect funds for the Home Rule League Deputation, the model Moderates were gradually being won over and were impressed with the necessity of supporting any scheme of reforms that would be placed before the Parliament. When we remember, how eager our Moderate friends are for co-operation with the Government, which sometimes means quiet submission to the bureaucratic will; when we remember how the unmeaning reforms of 1909 were praised as " generous and just/' need we wonder that the Moderates raUied round the banner of the Viceroy and the Secretary of State ? Those who know some-thing of the inner history of Indian Pohtics during the few months preceding the pubhcation of the Mont-ford Report are well aware of the specific purpose for which