From the Archives (April 7, 1922) | Lord Reading’s Apologia Premium

After a full month’s cogitation, Lord Reading has come to the decision that he need not resign his office as a consequence of his Government’s publication of the despatch on the Near East. His apologia, which he chose to address, not to the Indian Legislature but in the remotest corner of India, shows how sharply his views differ from those of Mr. Montagu. Lord Reading excuses himself for not having resigned office that he regards the Government of India as no more than “a subordinate branch of His Majesty’s Government” which being interpreted means only the British Foreign Office or the Colonial Office as the case may be. In thus resorting to what is purely a clerk’s excuse of having been privileged to commit a mistake because it was done with the permission of a superior, Lord Reading, we feel, has not only done a serious injustice to Mr. Montagu personally but also considerably lowered the prestige and position of his office and thereby betrayed the best interests of India.