§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF (for Mr. E. STANHOPE)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is true that all the remaining proposals of the Government of India and of the Simla Army Commission on the subject of the reduction of Military expenditure in India have been rejected by the Secretary of State; and, if he will now lay upon the Table Papers giving a complete explanation of these proposals?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSSir, I do not quite understand what the hon. Member for Mid Lincolnshire means by "all the remaining proposals;" but the recommendations of the Government of India for the re-organization of the Indian Army in four Army Corps, which has not been adopted, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, would involve additional, rather than decreased cost. The ulimate saving from the remaining proposals was estimated by the Government of India to amount to 43 lakhs of rupees. Of these, the Secretary of State has already sanctioned reductions amounting to 21¾ lakhs. Reductions amounting to nine lakhs were disallowed by the Secretary of State, as they would have required very important changes in the organization of the British Army. With regard to the remaining charges in the staff and other establishments, the Government of India have been invited to make any further recommendations they may consider practicable, consistent with the continuance of the Presidential Armies, it being considered that the desired reductions may be effected under the pre-sent organization. The Correspondence is not complete; but Papers will be presented when it is concluded.