WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

IMPERIAL WAR CABINET AND CONFERENCE 13
fighting alongside white soldiers and against white enemies.
This fact had created a new self-consciousness among
the Indians that showed itself in a demand for greater recognition,
and it also made consultation with them about the
further conduct of the War just and desirable. Hence the
Imperial Conference of 1917 was summoned on a special
basis, outside the official constitution. The representation of
India in the Imperial War Cabinet was the beginning of the
open recognition of India's new status. The precedent was
followed in the conferences and discussions of 1919 regarding
the peace settlement, and since then India has had her
place in every Imperial Conference. The two Imperial Conferences
of 1923 — the regular Quadrennial Conference and
the special Imperial Economic Conference — found India's
representatives at the table alongside the Dominion Premiers.
Two letters I received during the War from the present
Viceroy, Lord Willingdon (he was then Governor of Bombay),
give a new idea of the changes effected in enlightened British
opinion by India's loyalty during the War.
The first I received in January, 1916.
"22/1/16.
"My dear Lloyd George,
"Can you, amid all your preoccupation, give a minute to this
letter coming from one who is trying to do his bit out here and
has after three years got a profound and certain belief in the
necessity for a big and generous move in the way of legislation
both in economic and administrative matters by the Home
Government?
"I won't go into any details, but I wish to preface my remarks
by saying that I have written to various of our leaders on this and
either got no answer or no encouragement. What the position here
wants is courage and the readiness to take chances. If this is done
by some leader after this War is over, it is my conviction that