§ MR. SLAGG (Burnley)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he has now seen the "confidential" Circular No. 5, issued by Mr. J. C. Veasey, Inspector General of Police, Bengal, dated Calcutta, December 30, 1887, which directs the police, among other subjects, to scrutinize and report weekly upon—
Everything, however apparently trivial, that can have a political significance; comments on laws and Government measures; affairs in independent or semi-independent Native States, and rumours regarding their constitution; objects and proceedings of Native Societies, whether established for political or ostensibly for other objects; political or mass meetings, their origin, organization, and result as to public feeling in the neighbourhood, &c.;and, whether the Secretary of State will consider the advisability of directing the Circular to be withdrawn?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)No official copy has yet been received. In accordance with a promise I gave on June 7, a despatch has been sent to the Government of India on this subject; and, as soon as a reply is received, the matter will be considered by the Secretary of State in Council.