§ MR. DILLWYNasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he will communicate to the House the "precise instructions" authorizing the occupation of Quettah which were given by Her Majesty's Government, and the reasons which induced them to authorize that measure, which, by a Despatch dated December 26, 1867, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the part of the Government then in power, had declared would be inexpedient both on political and military grounds?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIt seems to me that this is a Question of a very argumentative character. It is intended, probably, to provoke some debate. I cannot understand what is the object of the hon. Member in putting the words "precise instructions" in inverted commas. [Mr. DILLWYN: They are quoted from a despatch.] I do not know what the hon. Member refers to. There are no precise instructions authorizing the occupation of Quettah; but if he will turn to the Papers presented last Session and the Session before he will see that there is a despatch from the Government of India, dated the 23rd of March, 1877, and a despatch from the Secretary of 280 State of the 13th of December following, which gives full information as to the reasons why the Indian Government at that time decided, upon the request of the Khan of Khelat, to send a British Force from Hindostan, and selected Quettah as the proper post.