§ MR. BRADLAUGHI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State for India is aware that the Government of India have, virtually, annexed the State of Kashmir to British India, and subjected its ruler to great indignities; whether the Secretary of State is aware of the 300 contents of a letter, No. 11 C, of 1889, dated 17th April, from Colonel Nisbet, C.I.E., Resident of Kashmir, to Raja Amir Singh, Prime Minister of Kashmir; whether such letter is a violation of the solemn promises made by the Queen on the assumption by Her Majesty of the direct rule of India, that the Native Indian Princes should be safeguarded in their dominions, and that no annexation of Native territory should be made; whether the Maharajah of Kashmir has been removed from the position of an active and responsible ruler of his dominions to that of a mere pensioner on State funds; whether the Maharajah has been informed that "he will be expected to refrain from all interference in the administration," that "he will have no power of obtaining the State Revenues," that he is to receive "an annual sum sufficient to maintain his household in due comfort," but nothing for what is called "extravagance," that he is not to attend meetings of the Council, and that the Council is "expected" to exercise the powers of administration it possesses "under the guidance of the British Resident"; whether the Councillors, three or four of whom (out of five or six who constitute the Council) being "officials selected by the Government of India," have also been informed that they are to "take no steps of importance without consulting the Resident," and that they are to "follow his advice whenever it may be offered;" whether he is aware that in an autograph letter to the Viceroy the Maharajah has protested against the treatment to which he has been subjected, begging that if liberty cannot be restored to him his life might be taken; whether the Secretary of State will state why the course described has been taken with the Maharajah, without any opportunity being given to him of being heard either by the Government of India or by any other authority; whether, in view of the alarm which the course adopted by the Government of India has already caused among the feudatory Princes in India, an opportunity will be given to the Maharajah to apply for a reversal of the decree contained in letter No. 11 C, of 1889, either before a Select Committee of this House or in some other suitable manner; and, whether the Secretary of State will, with as little delay as possible, give the 301 House an opportunity of discussing the important step which has been taken by the Government of India, and will lay all Papers connected with Kashmir upon the Table of this House?
* SIR J. GORSTThe Government of India has neither annexed the State of Kashmir nor subjected its ruler to great indignities. The Secretary of State has as yet received no information respecting the letter referred to. The Maharajah has voluntarily resigned the administration of his State, and his resignation has been accepted. But he will receive from the revenues of the State a suitable allowance for his maintenance. The answer to this question is in the affirmative. The Secretary of State has as yet received no information respecting the letter referred to. The Secretary of State has no reason to think that recent events in Kashmir have caused any alarm amongst the native chiefs in India, whose rights are, subject to the duties of the paramount power towards the people of the Native States, scrupulously respected by the Government of, India. There is no correspondence upon the subject which could, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, be at present, laid before Parliament without detriment to the Public Service.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHMay I ask if the hon. Gentleman is aware that the Maharajah repudiates the voluntary action imputed to him in the hon. Gentleman's answer? Will he afford some opportunity of having the matter investigated?
* SIR J. GORSTThe Secretary of State has no official information, but I am quite sure that he will not be surprised if that is the fact. If the hon. Member knew the Maharajah of Kashmir as the Government of India do, I think the hon. Gentleman himself would not be surprised.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHDoes the hon. Gentleman mean that although the Secretary of State has no official information, he is aware, unofficially, that the Maharajah repudiates the voluntary action imputed to him?
§ MR. BRADLAUGHThen has the Secretary of State any knowledge, 302 officially or unofficially, that the Maharajah does deny the voluntary action attributed to him, and does he not think that in so grave a matter, affecting so large a question, an opportunity should be afforded for investigation?
* SIR J. GORSTMy answer was perfectly clear—namely, that the Secretary of State has no information, but I should not be surprised if the statement should turn out hereafter to be true. I should attach no importance to the fact.