SCINDE. (Hansard, 18 May 1843)

§ Mr. Roebuck
asked if Government were prepared to lay before the House any information or extracts connected with the late transactions in Scinde.

Mr. Bingham Baring
was not prepared to afford all the information wished for. It was reported that a second engagement had taken place, and they had no reason to doubt but that her Majesty's troops had been successful. They were not as yet, however in full possession of the circumstances, and they could not, therefore, lay the documents connected with them before the House. As soon, however, as these transactions should have been completed, such information would be produced as 499 would enable the House to form an accurate judgment of all that had taken place in the country alluded to.

§ Mr. Roebuck
wished to know, whether he was to understand that no information would be granted until all the transactions now in progress should have been completed.

§ Sir R. Peel
had no objection to lay before the House copies of all treaties already formed and ratified. At the very earliest period consistent with his public duty, the House would be put in possession of full information upon the subject.

§ Lord John Russell
said, that there was a report that certain treaties had been concluded with the Ameers of Scinde, but that after they were signed certain other demands, not contained in these treaties were made upon our part, and not complied with by the Ameers. Now the mere production of these treaties, without other documents, would not show whether that report was true or false, and if it were true, whether the circumstance to which it referred had been the cause of the war. If there were any papers connected with this matter in the possession of Government, he thought that they should be produced; and he did not see how their production could interfere with any military operations.

§ Sir Robert Peel
had no objection to the production of signed and ratified treaties; and he repeated that, on the earliest opportunity consistent with public duty, full information would be given to the House.