§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been called to an article in The Pioneer of Allahabad, July 22, 1888, in which serious charges are made regarding his connection with a Mr. Palmer; and whether it is his intention to take any action with regard to these statements?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)My attention has been called to the article in question. The charge which I understand to be insinuated in The Pioneer, that I have employed Mr. Palmer as an intermediary, either in the affairs of Hyderabad generally, or in reference to the Hyderabad Committee of this Session in particular, is wholly false. It is not my intention to take any action in regard to such statements. Perhaps the House will allow me to add that in the winter of 1883–4, before I had ever held Office, I acted as legal adviser to the Prime Minister and Senior Regent of Hyderabad. Since that time I have had nothing to do with the affairs of Hyderabad, except recently as Under Secretary of State for India. In that capacity I have acted under the direction 1243 of my noble Friend the Secretary of State, and through the regular officials of the India Office.