APPENDICES.

10. The opposition to the partition of Bengal was at first based mainly on sentimental grounds, but, as we shall show later in discussing the proposed modification of the Partition, since the enlargement of the Legislative Councils and especially 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 this country must wish to find some manner of appeasement if it is in any way possible to do so. The simple rescission of the Partition and a reversion to the status quo ante 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 expectations of the Mahomedans of Eastern Bengal, who form the bulk of the population of that provil1ce and who have been loyal to the British Government through-out the troubles, without exposing ourselves to the charge of bad faith. A settlement to be satisfactory and conclusive must provide convenient administrative units;

1. Satisfy the legitimate aspirations of the Bengalis;
2. Duly safeguard the interests of the Mahomedans of Eastern Bengal, and generally conciliate Mahomedan sentiment; and
3. Be so clearly based upon broad grounds of political and administrative expediency as to negative any presumption that it has been exacted by clamour or agitation.

11. If the head-quarters of the Government of India be transferred from Calcutta to Delhi, and if Delhi be thereby made the Imperial capital, placing the city of Delhi and part of the. surrounding country under the direct administration of the Government of India, the following scheme, which embraces three inter-dependent proposals, would appear to satisfy all these conditions :-

1. To reunite the five Bengali-speaking divisions, 'viz., the Presidency, Burdwan, Dacca, Rajshahi and Chittagong divisions, forming them into a Presidency to be administered by a Governor-in-Council. The area of the Province will be approximately 50,000 square miles and the population about 42,000,000.
2. To create a Lieutenant-Governorship-in-Council to consist of Behar, Chota Nagpur, and Orissa, with a Legislative Council and a capital at Patna. The area of the Province would be approximately 113,000 square miles, and the population about 35,000,000.
3. To restore the Chief Commissionership of Assam. The area of that Province will be about 56,000 square miles and the population about 5,000,000.

4