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diplomatic compromise in moments of danger； we bully haughtily where
we can and assimilate where we must。 It is not for nothing that our
upper and middle…class youth is educated by teachers of the highest
character； scholars and gentlemen； men who can pretend quite
honestly that Darwinism hasn't upset the historical fall of man；
that cricket is moral training； and that Socialism is an outrage
upon the teachings of Christ。 A sort of dignified dexterity of
evasion is the national reward。 Germany； with a larger population；
a vigorous and irreconcilable proletariat； a bolder intellectual
training； a harsher spirit； can scarcely fail to drive us at last to
a realisation of intolerable strain。 So we may never fight at all。
The war of preparations that has been going on for thirty years may
end like a sham…fight at last in an umpire's decision。 We shall
proudly but very firmly take the second place。 For my own part；
since I love England as much as I detest her present lethargy of
soul； I pray for a chastening warI wouldn't mind her flag in the
dirt if only her spirit would come out of it。 So I was able to
shake off that earlier fear of some final and irrevocable
destruction truncating all my schemes。 At the most； a European war
would be a dramatic episode in the reconstruction I had in view。
In India； too； I no longer foresee； as once I was inclined to see；
disaster。 The English rule in India is surely one of the most
extraordinary accidents that has ever happened in history。 We are
there like a man who has fallen off a ladder on to the neck of an
elephant； and doesn't know what to do or how to get down。 Until
something happens he remains。 Our functions in India are absurd。
We English do not own that country； do not even rule it。 We make
nothing happen； at the most we prevent things happening。 We
suppress our own literature there。 Most English people cannot even
go to this land they possess； the authorities would prevent it。 If
Messrs。 Perowne or Cook organised a cheap tour of Manchester
operatives； it would be stopped。 No one dare bring the average
English voter face to face with the reality of India； or let the
Indian native have a glimpse of the English voter。 In my time I
have talked to English statesmen； Indian officials and ex…officials；
viceroys； soldiers； every one who might be supposed to know what
India signifies； and I have prayed them to tell me what they thought
we were up to there。 I am not writing without my book in these
matters。 And beyond a phrase or so about 〃even…handed justice〃and
look at our sedition trials！they told me nothing。 Time after time
I have heard of that apocryphal native ruler in the north…west； who；
when asked what would happen if we left India； replied that in a
week his men would be in the saddle； and in six months not a rupee
nor a virgin would he left in Lower Bengal。 That is always given as
our conclusive justification。 But is it our business to preserve
the rupees and virgins of Lower Bengal in a sort of magic
inconclusiveness？ Better plunder than paralysis； better fire and
sword than futility。 Our flag is spread over the peninsula； without
plans； without intentionsa vast preventive。 The sum total of our
policy is to arrest any discussion； any conferences that would
enable the Indians to work out a tolerable scheme of the future for
themselves。 But that does not arrest the resentment of men held
back from life。 Consider what it must be for the educated Indian
sitting at the feast of contemporary possibilities with his mouth
gagged and his hands bound behind him！ The spirit of insurrection
breaks out in spite of espionage and seizures。 Our conflict for
inaction develops stupendous absurdities。 The other day the British
Empire was taking off and examining printed cotton stomach wraps for
seditious emblems and inscriptions。 。 。 。
In some manner we shall have to come out of India。 We have had our
chance； and we have demonstrated nothing but the appalling dulness
of our national imagination。 We are not good enough to do anything
with India。 Codger and Flack； and Gates and Dayton； Cladingbowl in
the club； and the HOME CHURCHMAN in the home； cant about
〃character；〃 worship of strenuous force and contempt of truth； for
the sake of such men and things as these； we must abandon in fact；
if not in appearance； that empty domination。 Had we great schools
and a powerful teaching； could we boast great men； had we the spirit
of truth and creation in our lives； then indeed it might be
different。 But a race that bears a sceptre must carry gifts to
justify it。
It does not follow that we shall be driven catastrophically from
India。 That was my earlier mistake。 We are not proud enough in our
bones to be ruined by India as Spain was by her empire。 We may be
able to abandon India with an air of still remaining there。 It is
our new method。 We train our future rulers in the public schools to
have a very wholesome respect for strength； and as soon as a power
arises in India in spite of us； be it a man or a culture； or a
native state； we shall he willing to deal with it。 We may or may
not have a war； but our governing class will be quick to learn when
we are beaten。 Then they will repeat our South African diplomacy；
and arrange for some settlement that will abandon the reality； such
as it is； and preserve the semblance of power。 The conqueror DE
FACTO will become the new 〃loyal Briton；〃 and the democracy at home
will be invited to celebrate our recessiontriumphantly。 I am no
believer in the imminent dissolution of our Empire； I am less and
less inclined to see in either India or Germany the probability of
an abrupt truncation of those slow intellectual and moral
constructions which are the essentials of statecraft。
6
I sit writing in this little loggia to the sound of dripping water
this morning we had rain； and the roof of our little casa is still
not dry； there are pools in the rocks under the sweet chestnuts； and
the torrent that crosses the salita is full and boastful；and I try
to recall the order of my impressions during that watching； dubious
time； before I went over to the Conservative Party。 I was trying
chaotic taskto gauge the possibilities inherent in the quality of
the British aristocracy。 There comes a broad spectacular effect of
wide parks； diversified by woods and bracken valleys； and dappled
with deer； of great smooth lawns shaded by ancient trees； of big
facades of sunlit buildings dominating the country side； of large
fine rooms full of handsome； easy…mannered people。 As a sort of
representative picture to set off against those other pictures of
Liberals and of Socialists I have given； I recall one of those huge
assemblies the Duchess of Clynes inaugurated at Stamford House。 The
place itself is one of the vastest private houses in London； a huge
clustering mass of white and gold saloons with polished floors and
wonderful pictures； and staircases and galleries on a Gargantuan
scale。 And there she sought to gather all that was most
representative of English activities； and did； in fact； in those
brilliant nocturnal crowds； get samples of nearly every section of
our social and intellectual life； with a marked predominance upon
the political and social side。
I remember sitting in one of the recesses at the end of the big
saloon with Mrs。 Redmondson； one of those sharp…minded； beautiful
rich women one meets so often in London； who seem to have done
nothing and to be capable of everything； and we watched the crowd
uniforms and splendours were streaming in from a State balland
exchanged information。 I told her about the politicians and
intellectuals； and she told me about the aristocrats； and we
sharpened our wit on them and counted the percentage of beautiful
p