§ SIR ROPER LETHBRIDGE (Kensington, N.)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the Government of India, in a telegram to the Secretary of State, of the 5th of June, 1887, relating to the lease of the Burmah Ruby Mines to Mr. Streeter, stated, "we see no just ground for cancelling this arrangement;" and, whether the Government of India has subsequently discovered any just ground for cancelling the arrangement referred to; and, if not, whether Her Majesty's Government will sanction the arrangement?
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)asked when the Correspondence on the subject of the Ruby Mines concession will be laid upon the Table of the House; and, whether the Correspondence will be printed in full; if not, why not?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)(1), Yes; the words are correctly quoted; (2), No; but if the hon. Member will look at page 31 of the Papers he will see that the Government of India reported that no binding agreement had been entered into; and at page 32 he will see that the Secretary of State maintained his original position of refusing to sanction any lease of the mines until full information respecting their value and respecting Native rights had been received. In reply to the second Question, I have to say that the Papers were laid on the Table at the end of last Session; and they contain all the information at present in the possession of the Secretary of State with regard to the Burmah Ruby Mines.
§ SIR ROPER LETHBRIDGEasked, whether the House was to understand that Her Majesty's Government would sanction the arrangement if they found, on further inquiry, that it was a just one?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTsaid, he had frequently informed the House that the Secretary of State for India had sent an expert to the Burmah Ruby Mines. That expert had visited the mines, and had made—or was on the point of making—a Report to the Government of India; and the Secretary of State had every confidence that the Viceroy and the Council would do full justice to the Revenues of India and to the various parties concerned when they had a full and complete Report before them.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONasked, when the Report of the expert might be expected in London?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTreplied, that he had just stated that it had already been made—or was on the point of being made—to the Government of India.