§ MR. CLANCY(for Sir THOMAS ESMONDE) (Dublin Co., S.)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, If it is a fact, that on the occasion of the Jubilee Volunteer Review the Indian Princes were compelled to leave their carriages outside the precincts of Buckingham Palace and to walk across the courtyard, while others were allowed to drive up to the Pavilion; if it is a fact, that those of the Indian Princes who attended the laying of the foundation stone of the Imperial Institute were not provided with seats on the daïs reserved for Royalties and their attendants, but had to sit in the arena; that they were not even given front seats; and that after the ceremony they had to struggle through the crowd like ordinary visitors; if it is a fact that the Princes were required to pay their railway fare to Portsmouth and back on the occasion of the Naval Review; that they were not accommodated with places on board of one of the Royal yachts; and that the Maharajah of Kuch Behar had to travel in the same railway compartment as his servants, as a seat in a first class carriage was not reserved for him; if it is a fact that this lack of attention towards these notabilities has aroused considerable ill-feeling in India; and, who is responsible therefor?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)I have made the best inquiry I could into the events of the State ceremonial to which the Question directs my attention, and this is what I am informed. I am told that at the Volunteer Review arrangements were made for the carriages of Indian Chiefs to set down at the entrée door of Buckingham Palace, where the Chiefs were met by officers and conducted to their seats. This arrangement was made by the India Office, in consultation with the Lord Steward. The arrangements at the Imperial Institute were entirely in the hands of the committee, to whom the hon. Gentleman must address his Question on the subject. At the Naval Review everyone who was the guest of the Admiralty on the occasion paid his fare to Portsmouth and back. The Indian Chiefs had places 1546 on Her Majesty's ship Malabar, and were entertained on board by the Government. I am told that the Maharajah of Kuch Behar had a first class reserved saloon, in which ha travelled with his suite. For this arrangement the India Office is responsible. The Secretary of State has heard nothing of ill-feeling in India on the subject.
THE CLARK (Caithness)asked the hon. Gentleman, whether he considered Indian Chiefs the proper title to apply to Rajahs and Mahnrajahs—to His Royal Highness the Maharajah of Holkar, for instance, and others?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTWill the hon. Member give Notice of the Question?