of the new capital or as to the occasion on which that choice should be announced. On geographical, historical and political grounds, the Capital of the Indian Empire should be at Delhi, and the announcement that the transfer of the seat of Government to Delhi had been sanctioned should be made by His Majesty the King-Emperor at the forthcoming Imperial Durber in Delhi itself. 7. The only serious opposition to the transfer which may be anticipated may, we think, come from the European Commercial Community of Calcutta who might, we fear not regard the creation of a Governorship of Bengal as altogether adequate, compensation for the withdrawal of the Government of India. The opposition will be quite intelligible, but we can no doubt count upon their patriotism to reconcile them to a measure which would greatly contribute to the welfare of the Indian Empire. The Bengalis might not of course be favorably disposed to the proposal if it stood alone, for it will entail the loss of some of the influence which they now exercise owing to the fact that Calcutta is the headquarters of the Government of India. But as we hope presently to show they should be reconciled to the change by other features of our scheme which are specially designed to give satisfaction to Bengali sentiment. In these circumstances we do not think that they would be so manifestly unreasonable as to oppose it, and if they did, might confidently expect that their opposition would raise no echo in the rest of India.
8. Absolutely conclusive as these general considerations in favour of the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi in themselves appear to us to be there are further special considerations arising out of the present Political situation in Bengal and Eastern Bengal which, in our opinion, renders such a measure peculiarly opportune at such a moment, and to these we would now draw your Lordship's earnest attention.
9. Various circumstances have forced upon us the conviction that the bitterness of feeling engendered by the partition of Bengal is very widespread and unyielding and that we are by no means at an end of the troubles which followed upon that measure. Eastern Bengal and Assam has, no doubt, benefited by the Partition, and the Mohammedans of Province, who form a large majority of Population, are loyal and contented, but the resentment amongst the Bengalis in both Provinces of Bengal, who hold most of the land, fill the Professions, and exercise a preponderating in hence in public affairs, is as strong as ever, though somewhat less local.
10.The oppositions to the Partition of Bengal was at first based mainly on sentimental grounds, but, as we shall show late in discussing the proposed modification of the Partition, since the enlargement of the Legislative Councils and specially of the representative element in them, the grievance of the Bengalis has become much more real and tangible, and is likely to increase, instead of to diminish. Everyone with any true desire for the peace and prosperity of these countries must wish to find some manner of appeasement if it is in any way possible to do so. The simple rescission of the portion and a reversion to the stat as quarrante are manifestly impossible both on political and on administrative grounds. The old province of Bengal was unmanageable under any form of Government, and we could not defraud the legitimate expections of the Mohammedans of Eastern Bengal, who form the bulk of the population of that Province and who have
