Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/290

 Above all, he wished to see the officials deprived of the initiative for inaugurating large policies that they at pre- sent possessed, and reduced to the status of permanent servants in Britain and other countries. Such initiative should only be exercised by the people's representatives. Lastly, he considered the inclusion of a Declaration of Rights in the Statute was absolutely necessary "*.

After thee ompletion of the above oral statement it was naturally expected that Mr. Tilak would be cross- examined by the several members of the Committee, and as it was further expected that the cross-examina- tion of Mr. Tilak would particularly be lively, the Com- mittee-room was crowded to its utmost capacity. But it was soon announced that the Committee did not in- tend to trouble Mr. Tilak with questions. This particu- lar soUcitude for Mr. Tilak was evidently the off- spring of prejudice. It is said that when the name of Mr. Tilak was sent to the Committee to represent the Indian Home Rule League, Lord Selboume asked the members of the Committee whether Mr. Tilak was to be allowed to make a statement. The majority of the members were strongly against hearing Mr. Tilak, but none of them could hit upon some specious pretext on which he was to be rejected. They, therefore, had to allow him to appear before them, but as they did not like to tolerate his presence more than was absolutely neces- sary, they *non-co-operated* with him by refusing to put him questions. This childish conduct of the Committee shows the deep prejudice with which even the better mind of England regarded the greatest of Indians then Hving.

Review October 191 9).
 * Mr. Tilak's work in England (St. Nihal Singh ; Modern