§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether Major C. B. Euan Smith, of the Madras Infantry, was First Assistant to the Resident at Hyderabad in 1877; whether, as such, he was practically arbiter in regard to successful spoliations effected by the late co-Regent of Hyderabad on the estates of his relatives of the annual value of about £100,000; whether the Under Secretary of State is aware that it was a matter of common rumour in Hyderabad that Major Smith had been corrupted by the said co-Regent, and had suddenly exchanged a position of indebtedness for one of comparative affluence; whether he will ascertain the correctness or otherwise of the allegation published in the London "Statesman" last August—namely, that General A. W. Macintire, C.B., when in command of the British force at Hyderabad in 1878, called on Major Euan Smith to clear himself of the charges thus ascribed to him (General Macintire being, it is said, now in London); whether he will state why Major Euan Smith was removed from Hyderabad to Muscat about July 1879, and whether he will lay on the Table the papers regarding his removal; what services has the said officer performed to earn the title of C.S.I, which has been bestowed on him; and what services has he performed to entitle him to his recent appointment to be British Resident at the Court of the Maharaja of Oodeypore over the heads of many political officers who are his seniors?
VISCOUNT ENFIELDMy Lords, in answer to the Questions put to me by the noble Lord, I have to say, taking the Questions in their order—first, that Major C. B. Euan Smith was First Assistant to the Resident at Hyderabad in 1877; secondly, Sir Richard Meade, late Commissioner at Hyderabad, formally denied last year that Major Smith was "practically arbiter" in the settlement between Amir I Kabir and his nephews; thirdly, I am aware that rumours prejudicial to Major Euan Smith's character were circulated at Hyderabad two years ago. As no official charges were made against him, no official inquiry was held; but I am able to say that Sir Richard Meade consulted General Macintire on the subject, and that both these officers came to the conclusion that these charges were groundless and unworthy of notice. Fourthly, Major Euan Smith was transferred from Hyderabad to Muscat because he knew Persian, and the appointment carried with it an increased allowance; it was also thought undesirable that he should return to Hyderabad, owing to previous ill-feeling of certain parties against him; fifthly, I cannot undertake to lay upon the Table of the House the Papers relating to his transfer; sixthly, Major Smith received the distinction of C.S.I, in 1872, for good service performed under Sir Frederick Goldsmid, when on a special mission on the Beloochistan border; seventhly, the present officiating employment to Oodeypore of Major Smith was made because he came out just as the temporary vacancy occurred, which was a desirable arrangement both on financial considerations, in acknowledgment of his past services, and the hopes held out to him of special advancement; eighthly, on this account he had been offered the Persian Gulf Residency in 1877, and Oodeypore in 1878: in both cases the appointment fell through, but through no fault of his; ninthly, this information is contained in a telegram received this week from India, in reply to inquiries addressed to the Viceroy by the India Office on the appearance on the Paper of the noble Lord's Questions; tenthly, I may give, in conclusion, Sir Donald Stewart's opinions of this officer's Afghan services—
He did admirably under me, and gave me the highest satisfaction in every respect; his services were simply invaluable on the march 1175 from Candahar to Cabul; and in the absence of St. John, there was no officer in the force who could have replaced Euan Smith.The Viceroy adds—This is the hare and simple truth, and I have the greatest pleasure in bearing testimony to Smith's good work in Afghanistan.I hope, in conclusion, that your Lordships will think that I have now given a satisfactory answer in regard to the charges made by the noble Lord against this gallant officer.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYsaid, that in his answer the noble Viscount (Viscount Enfield) had only shifted the responsibility in the case to Sir Richard Meade.