§ MR. S. WILLIAMSON (Kilmarnock, &c.)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he has yet received the further information regarding licensed prostitution, which he promised to obtain; whether his attention has been called to further details of the working of the Government system of licensed prostitution recently published by Mr. Dyer; whether, in view of the fact that these statements are substantiated by the publication of official documents, the Government has sufficient evidence to warrant its immediate suppression, as indicated by the Under Secretary; and, whether the Government will undertake that no alternative system shall be permitted to be carried out "regimentally," or otherwise, under evasive Regulations, as suggested by the Quartermaster General of India's Circular Memorandum of the 17th of June, 1886?
§ MR. WINTERBOTHAM (Gloucester, Cirencester)asked, whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that Commanding 1223 Officers, in accordance with "a Circular Memorandum, dated from the Office of Quartermaster General in India, No. 21, 17th June, 1886, addressed to General Officers commanding Divisions and Districts," and signed E. F. Chapman, Major General, have from time to time sent requisitions, addressed to Cantonment Magistrates, for the supply of "young and attractive women," to serve as licensed prostitutes in the military camps of India; whether Her Majesty's Government is prepared to relieve British Magistrates from the obligation of complying with such requisitions; whether it is a fact that venereal disease among the troops has increased under the existing system; and, whether the Government will promise to take steps to at once free this country and the Government of India from complicity in a system so opposed to the spirit of recent legislation adopted by this House?
§ MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)asked the hon. Gentleman, whether his attention has been called to a paper, purporting to be a copy of a Memorandum issued from the Office of the Quartermaster General in India, relating to the subject of prostitution; and, whether he is in a position to state if such a document, or any document substantially of that character, has been issued from that or any other Government Office?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)The Secretary of State has not received, and has not had time to receive, an answer from the Government of India. He has nothing to add at present to the statement on this subject already made several times to the House—namely, that the Secretary of State is causing full inquiry to be made into these allegations, and that he has taken measures that if such practices as those described exist they shall be stopped forthwith.
§ MR. STANSFELD (Halifax)asked, when the hon. Gentleman would be able to state the intentions of the Government on the subject of carrying out in India the Resolution of the House of Commons of some Sessions ago against the compulsory examination of women?
§ MR. WINTERBOTHAMasked, whether, in "another place," an answer had not been given that the result of the inquiries made was at present in the hands of the Governor General of India; 1224 and, if that were not so, the hon. Gentleman would not think it worth while to telegraph to India to know whether so serious an allegation were true or false?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTI think hon. Members will see that after the statement I have made it would be highly unbecoming to make any further statements to-night.
§ MR. STANSFELDI do not ask the hon. Gentleman to make the statement to-night; but when he will be prepared to state the intentions of the Government.
§ MR. S. WILLIAMSONsaid, that the first Question he put on this disagree. able subject was on the 24th of February. A long time had elapsed since then, and on ordinary matters of business they could get an answer from India in six hours. He sincerely hoped that before the Whitsuntide Holidays they would get an answer.