§ MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether a numerously signed Memorial was presented, in September last, to the Governor General of India, from the Ladies' Committee of the Calcutta Missionary Conference, and from other women in India, praying that the protection afforded by "The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885," to young girls under 16 in this country might be extended to India; whether it is the case that the Governor General has replied to that Memorial refusing its prayer; whether such protection is afforded to girls under 16 in Russia; and, whether a Treaty has been concluded between this country and Russia, which came into force a year ago, by which provision is made for the extradition from India to Russia of persons accused of seducing girls under 16, which persons are thus liable to be delivered up from India to Russia, to be there tried for what is not a crime in India itself?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)The Secretary of State has no knowledge of the facts stated in the first two paragraphs of the Question. Protection is afforded to girls under 16 by Section 373 of the Indian Penal Code. The answer to the last two paragraphs is in the affirmative; but the 18th section of the Russian Treaty provides that its stipulations 545
Shall be applicable to the Colonies and Foreign Possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, so far as the laws for the time being in force in such Colonies and Foreign Possessions respectively will allow.