MR. GILPINsaid, he would beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the Secretary of State for India has given any instructions to the Government of India as to the withdrawal of the agency of the Bank of Bengal, established at Bombay; whether any communication has been received from that Government in reply; and whether such reply indicates that the agency would be withdrawn?
MR. GRANT DUFFSir, in reply to my hon. Friend's first Question, I have to say that the Secretary of State for India, in conformity with the view which has all along been taken by the Home authorities, did, on the 20th day of May last, address a despatch to the Government of India, directing it to use its utmost influence to induce the Bank of Bengal to withdraw its agency from Bombay. In reply to his second and third Questions, I have to say that we have received communications from the Government of India which indicate that 235 the Bank of Bengal declines to withdraw its Bombay agency.