HC Deb 14 August 1885 vol 301 cc34-5
MR. GOURLEY

asked the Secretary of State for India, Whether, in consequence of his having decided that Na- tive Indian Regiments in the service of the Queen shall be armed with Martini-Henry rifles, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to recommend that the armies of independent Native Princes shall be similarly armed?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL)

, in reply, said, that the subject was a very large one, and was surrounded with many difficulties. He was not aware that the arming of the regiments of the Native Princes of India with the Martini-Henry rifle had ever been considered by the Government of India.