346 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

British power, nor rule so badly that the resulting discontent is
a menace to the peace of India. British residents attached to the
courts of the Princes, exercise much influence over policy, No
Indian State can have direct intercourse with a foreign power,
but they consult with each other at the meetings of the Chamber
of Princes. Some of them ipajTitain armies, but in co-operation
with the general plans for defence made by the Government of
India. In social and economic matters, the States as a whole are
somewhat behind British India, though there are exceptions,
where an energetic Prince has used his power to effect reforms
more rapidly than the uneasy combination of British and Indians
has been able to do.

The "India" which, since 1919, has been a member of the
League of Nations, includes both British India and the States,
as the personnel of its delegations to the League Assembly shows.
This arrangement implied that at some time in the future,
there would be a form of Government uniting the two; a further
step in this direction is taken by the 1935 Act. It recognises that
the Princes have treaty rights, which an Act of Parliament cannot
legally affect, but plans a Federation of India to which they may
join themselves if they wish. When a number of States whose
aggregate population is at least half that of all the States, have
expressed their willingness to join, both Houses of Parliament
may present an address to the King, who may then issue a
Proclamation bringing the Federation into existence. Until that
happens, the powers planned for the Government of the Feder-
ation will be exercised, though only over the provinces of British
India, by the present Central Government of India.

Plans for Federal Government. Executive power, both in the
projected Federation, and at present, lies in the hands of the
Governor-General, and a Council which 'he appoints. Since the
members of this Council sit in the Legislature, there is some
resemblance to the British system of responsible Cabinet
Government. The Governor-General, however, unlike the King
in Britain, does not act entirely as his Ministers advise. The Act