§ MR. FAWCETTasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether, as in the "Estimated Account of the Receipts and Disbursements of the Home Treasury of the Government of India from the 1st April 1877 to the 31st March 1878" the allowance to Maharajah Dhuleep Singh was stated at £21,067 and in the similar Account of Receipts and Disbursements from the 1st April 1878 to the 31st March 1879 at £34,067, he can inform the House of the reason of this increase in the allowance?
§ MR. ONSLOWasked the Under Secretary of State for India, If no papers regarding an increased allowance to Maharajah Dhuleep Singh can be laid upon the Table of the House during the present Session, he can state the reasons why the noble Lord the Secretary of State for India is prepared to reopen the question, considering the present allowance to his Highness was fixed after the fullest consideration by the Government of India and the Home Government?
§ MR. E. STANHOPESir, advances of £10,000 and £3,000 were sanctioned to the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh by the Secretary of State in Council on the 29th of August, 1878, and the 4th of March, 44 1879, respectively. Both were made subject to such conditions as to interest and eventual adjustment as may hereafter be determined upon, and were made pending the final settlement of the Maharajah's affairs. My hon. Friend the Member for Guildford asks why my noble Friend the Secretary of State has consented to re-open this question. The fact is that he has done nothing to reopen it. The state of affairs between the Maharajah and the Government of India is of a very complicated character, and concerns not only the pecuniary position of His Highness himself, but also the future welfare of his children. The desire of the Secretary of State in Council at the present moment is to effect a final settlement of all these matters. So far from re-opening the question, they are desirous of closing it once for all, and it is for this purpose that they have been in communication with the Government of India.
§ MR. ONSLOWIs it proposed to permanently increase the Maharajah's allowance?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEThe whole subject of the relations between the Maharajah and the Government of India is under the consideration of the Secretary of State in Council.
§ MR. FAWCETTI should like to know, Whether, when the £13,000 of the people of India was advanced, any security was taken for its re-payment, and, if so, what was the nature of the security; also, whether the application to increase the allowance to the Maharajah was made subsequently to those advances?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEI am not quite sure that I understand the Question, but there certainly have been communications with the Maharajah since those advances; but the whole matter is subject to further consideration.
§ MR. FAWCETTThe Under Secretary has not answered my first Question in reference to security for re-payment of the £13,000.
§ MR. E. STANHOPEThese advances were made in connection with the general considerations of the Maharajah's position, and I do not doubt that when a general settlement is arrived at a satisfactory conclusion will be come to on that point.
§ MR. FAWCETTI think it my duty to press the Question, even if I have to conclude with a Motion. We were re- 45 minded only on Friday of the great importance of saving to India £9,000, and I again request the Under Secretary to give a distinct answer to this Question—When the £13,000 were advanced to the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, was or was not any security taken in exchange by the Government?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEThe answer is perfectly clear. The annual allowance made to the Maharajah is under the control of the Government of India, and it is perfectly open to them to increase or diminish" it. The £13,000 could, therefore, if the Government of India thought fit, be struck off the Maharajah's allowance.
§ MR. FAWCETTIs this £13,000 a temporary advance made by the Secretary of State to the Maharajah under security for its re-payment, or is it to be a permanent addition to His Highness's allowance?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEIt is a temporary advance, made, as I have said, pending a general settlement of the whole affair. It is rather hard to press the matter here, seeing that the whole question is as present under consideration.
§ MR. FAWCETTI beg to give Notice that, in consequence of the answer I have received, I will certainly ask the House to express its opinion on the Motion, which stands in my name upon the Paper, with respect to the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh.