§ MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, with respect to a Paper to which his attention has been called, which purports to be a copy of a Memorandum issued from the Office of the Quartermaster General in India relating to the subject of prostitution, Whether he is now able 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 STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham) No; but I am able to state that the Secretary of State has taken such steps that the document, if authentic, will be forthwith cancelled; and orders have, as I have already frequently stated, been sent out to India which will put an absolute stop to such practices if they have existed.
§ MR. JAMES STUARTasked whether, seeing the very serious and important character of the document in question, the hon. Gentleman would lay it upon the Table of the House if it existed?
SIR JOHN GORSTWhen I find out whether the document exists or not, I will say whether I will lay it upon the Table.
§ MR. JAMES STUARTasked, if the hon. Gentleman would take immediate steps to telegraph to India to ascertain whether it existed or not?
[No reply.]