§ MR. J. G. HUBBARDasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he could give any definite information as to the intentions of the Government in relation to the distribution of the expense of the Afghan War between Great Britain and India?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIt is difficult within the limits of an Answer to reply satisfactorily to the Question of my right hon. Friend, because the matter involves very serious considerations, affecting, as it does, both England and India, and requires more discussion than I can now venture upon. I hope to be able to refer to the Question at more length in the course of the evening. We should certainly not assent to any principle upon which the military operations of the war would be conducted by one Government—the Government of India—on the understanding that the expenses would be defrayed by another—the Government of England—and the same objections would equally apply to any fixed proportion being arranged, as my right hon. Friend suggests. I believe that that would lead to extravagance, and would throw more, rather than less, of the burden on India in the long run. Nevertheless, I fully admit that the subject is one which requires special consideration, and by-and-by I shall be prepared to enter on it, and to state my views. This, however, is not the proper time for doing so; for without knowing the extent or the expense of the war, I am not able to say what fixed sum, or what proportion, ought to be borne by the Indian Revenue.