§ MR. WHALLEYasked the Under Secretary of State for India, with reference to the recent increase of £8,570 a-year to Roman Catholic chaplains for the Indian army against the protest of Members of the Council, Whether such chaplains are to be permitted without restraint to inculcate on British soldiers the doctrine of the Papal Syllabus of 1864; and, whether their claim to be recognised as not being the servants of the Queen, and not to be subject to the same regulations as Presbyterian or Anglican chaplains, as was stated by the noble Lord on the 11th of February last, is conceded by the Government?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONMr. Speaker, there are three statements in the Question of the hon. Gentleman which are not correct. The increase to the allowances of Roman Catholic chaplains in India received the support of the whole of the Viceroy's Council, with one exception. My statement is not correctly represented in the Question of the hon. Gentleman. I did not state that the Roman Catholic chaplains claimed immunity from the regulations to which Presbyterian or Anglican chaplains are subject, nor did I assert their claim to be recognized as the servants of another Government. I simply stated, as a matter of fact, that some of these chaplains were not natives of these islands, and that not being upon the establishment of the Government of India, they did not receive the same salaries, pensions, and allowances as the chaplains did who are upon the establishment and subject to the regulations of the Government of India. As to the doctrines which these gentlemen may hold or preach, I think there is no reason whatever for subjecting them, in the exercise of their duties, to restraints which the Government in this country has not considered it expedient or necessary to impose upon Roman Catholic chaplains in England.
§ MR. WHALLEYwished to know whether the Government conceded the claim of the Roman Catholic chaplains 1281 in India to be recognized as not being the servants of the Queen, and not to be subject to the same regulations as Presbyterian or Anglican chaplains?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONI have already stated that some of the chaplains who are not natives of these islands are not on the establishment of the Government of India, and do not receive the same salaries, pensions, and allowances as those chaplains do who are on the establishment.
§ MR. WHALLEYDo they consider themselves subject to the—["Order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is out of Order. He has put a Question and received an answer. If he has another Question to ask he should give Notice of it in the ordinary way.