Page:The Maharaja of Cashmere.djvu/180

 Maharaja, though he has amply shewn his abihty to take charge of his owa affairs, is still held in leading strings and kept under the Resident's control.

Lord Cross, from his place in the House of Lords, pledged more than 4 years ago that the Maharaja would be' given back all his powers 'no sooner the situation in that quarter is remedied.' I submit the time has arrived for redeeming this pledge of the then Secretary of State. The situation referred to has been more than sufficiently reme- died. A number of reforms have been introduced into the State, the settlement opera- tions have made fair progress, large remissions of revenue have been made to relieve the peasant population from the pressure of chronic indebtedness, some obnoxious imposts and duties have bsen abolished, the frontier defences and communications have been nearly completed, the unruly tribes on the border have been subjugated, the army has reached a high degree of efficiency and rendered valuable active service, roads and works of