ABSTRACT
The reforms of 1909–12 were clearly unlikely to satisfy the extremists' demands for self-government, and in fact went but a small way to conciliate the moderates. The British Government, anxious to meet Indian aspirations but wholly at a loss how best to proceed, on August 20th 1917 committed itself to a formula, whose final form was due to Lord Curzon. At any rate Mr. Montagu, who was deputed with a small committee to consult the Indian government and politicians, had no doubts on the score. He succeeded in having his own way with the governor-general, Lord Chelmsford, and the report which bears their names is certainly an expression of his personality. The committee normally was constituted to the extent of two-thirds of members chosen by the unofficial members of the council, and its procedure was based on that of the corresponding committee of the British House of Commons.
