A well attended public meeting was held this evening [July 16] at Moraji Goculdas Hall [in Bombay] under the auspices of the Home Rule League to pass a resolution of confidence in Lord Hardinge. The Hon. Mr. Jinnah presided. In opening the proceedings Mr. Jinnah said that Lord Hardinge had appealed not only to the verdict of British public but to the verdict of Indian people also. Lord Hardinge said that India had been “bled white.” Only a statesman of his type, a Viceroy of his calibre, who knew well the pulse of public opinion, could have achieved that result. India submitted to be “bled white” because they had a statesman who shared their sorrows, who understood their thoughts and who had liberal and generous ideas of the national progress of India. Continuing, Mr. Jinnah said: To-day although India was ready to make any sacrifice unfortunately they noticed in various provinces a policy of repression. It was to be regretted that the present Viceroy sat quiet in the clouds of Simla when the policy of repression was going on.
Mr. B.C. Tilak moved: That this public meeting of the citizens of Bombay desires to place on record its sense of regret and resentment at the attempts that had been made to discredit Lord Hardinge in connection with the failures in Mesopotamia and testifies afresh on behalf of the people of India to their appreciation of and unabated confidence in Lord Hardinge who alone made it possible for this country by his statesmanlike policy of trusting her people to render help and services she has put forth towards the prosecution of the war and the cause of the Empire. Mr. Tilak said that Lord Hardinge had appealed to the Indian public opinion and they would not be doing their duty if they did not voice their feelings. Mr. Tilak then went on detailing what Lord Hardinge had done and said that even an Indian Viceory would have found it difficult to do all that Lord Hardinge had done.
Mr. Jahangir B. Petit in seconding said that no other Viceroy had won the hearts and captured the imagination of the people of India to the same extent to Lord Hardinge. The resolution was supported by Mr. Jamnadas Dwarakadas and carried.
On the motion of Mr. N.C. Kelkar it was resolved that a copy of the foregoing resolution be forwarded by the President of the meeting to the Prime Minister in England.