§ 4. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can make a statement on the subject of the retrocession of the Berars to the Nizam's Government, and the attitude of the Government of India towards this question?
§ Sir S. HOAREI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the question of the right hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on 27th Match, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Sir A. KNOXWas it not definitely stated by Lord Reading's Government that the Berars would not be handed back to the Nizam's Government?
§ Sir S. HOAREIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman will turn to the answer of 27th March he will see that I stated that in the discussions at present proceeding between the Government of India and His Exalted Highness the Nizam, the handing over of the administration of Berar to the Government of His Exalted Highness has not been contemplated by either party.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODShort of the retrocession of the Berars, is not there a great danger to the people of the Berars of losing their rights as British-Indian citizens and of being subject in some way to the Government of the Nizam?
§ Sir S. HOARENo, Sir. These are just the kind of issues that are being considered and that will be safeguarded.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the people in the Berars as well as the people in this country are extremely anxious about these negotiations that are going on?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have just said that those are interests which we have very much in mind.