HC Deb 26 February 1883 vol 276 cc835-6
MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is the case that, ever since the restoration of Mysore to the Native Maharajah, the wishes of the Prince and people of Mysore in the selection of the administration have been ignored or rejected by the British Resident; whether it is the fact that British, Native, and European officials from Madras have been established in all the important and lucrative posts of administration in Mysore; whether it is the case that the late Dewan, Mr. Runga Charlu, an officer from Madras, was thus imposed upon the Government of Mysore; whether it is the fact that, acting in conjunction with the British Resident and former Regent, Sir James Gordon, the late Dewan dismissed every Native of Mysore he could, and gave the offices of the State to officers from Madras; whether it is now proposed to impose another British officer from Madras upon the Prince and people of Mysore; and, whether the Imperial Government will allow Mysore to be administered by its own Prince and people?

MR. J. K. CROSS

The hon. Member concludes his Question by asking— Whether the Imperial Government will allow Mysore to be administered by its own Prince and people? In reply to that I can only repeat the answer which I gave the other night, that the administration of Mysore was transferred to the Maharajah, on the 25th of March, 1881. The conditions of the transfer are to be found in the Blue Book presented to Parliament in 1881; and those conditions have been faithfully observed by the Maharajah, and by the Imperial Government. As regards the allegations contained in the hon. Member's Question, I have to say, after reference to the Government of India, that— Since the transfer, no official whatever has been thrust on the Maharajah. No Madrassee has been introduced, and no Mysorean has been dismissed. The present Dewan was chosen by the Maharajah himself. He is from Madras, but has been for 14 years in the service of the Mysore Government. Before sanctioning his appointment, the Government of India represented to the Maharajah the desirability of selecting, if possible, a Native of Mysore for the post. The Maharajah replied, that there was no Native of Mysore properly qualified, and pressed for the appointment of the Minister in whom he had confidence.