As regards Indian members on the Executive Council, if you will allow me to say so, I think it was dubious tactics in you to bring that question forward.  We were told by those who object, for instance, to my recommending to the Crown an Indian member of the Viceroy’s Executive—­that it will never do; that if you choose a man of one community, the other will demand a second.  The Executive Council in all—­this will not be in the Bill—­consists of six members.  Suppose there were to be two vacancies, and I were to recommend to the Crown the appointment of one Mahomedan and one Hindu, the effect would be that of the six gentlemen one-third would be non-English.  You may think that all right, but it would be a decidedly serious step.  Suppose you say you will bring in a Bill, then, for the purpose of appointing an extra member always to be an Indian.  That is much more easily said than done.  I am talking perfectly plainly.  You would not get such a Bill.  I want to talk even more plainly.  I want to say that reference to the Hindu community or the Mahomedan community, in respect to the position of the Viceroy’s Executive, is entirely wide of the mark in the view, I know, both of the Viceroy and of myself.  If, as I have already said I expect, it may be my duty by-and-by to recommend to the Crown the name of an Indian member, it will not be solely for the sake of placing on the Viceroy’s Executive Council an Indian member simply as either a Hindu or a Mahomedan.  Decidedly we are of opinion that the Governor-General in Council will be all the more likely to transact business wisely, if he has a responsible Indian adviser at his elbow.  But the principle in making such a recommendation to the Crown, would be to remove the apparent disability in practice—­for there is no disability in law—­of an Indian holding a certain appointment because he is an Indian.  That is a principle we do not accept; and the principle I should go upon—­and I know Lord Minto would say exactly the same—­is the desirability of demonstrating that we hold to the famous promise made in the proclamation of Queen Victoria in 1858, that if a man is fully qualified in proved ability and character to fill a certain post, he shall not be shut out by race or religious faith.  There is a very great deal more to be said on this most important subject; but to-day I need only tell you—­which I do with all respect, without complaining of what you have said, and without denying that in practical usage some day there may be means of alternation for meeting your difficulty—­I see no chance whatever of our being able to comply with your present request.