HC Deb 04 March 1889 vol 333 cc825-7
COLONEL HUGHES(for Sir EDWARD WATKIN,) Hythe

Asked the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Government is aware that a publication called the "Congress Catechism" has been printed, in the twelve languages of India, and circulated by millions amongst the Hindu people, by an Association calling itself the "National Congress;" whether he is aware that, in form of dialogue between a mulvi and a peasant, that "Catechism" contains the following:— Rambaksh: But surely you don't want us to join together and fight with the Sirkar? If we killed all the Europeans how should we get along? All would be anarchy (ghader), as I remember when I was young. You cannot mean this. Molvi Fariduddin; God forbid! This would be a sin. Why should we kill the poor Europeans? Many of them are really good men; most of them mean at any rate to do right. They are ignorant, no doubt, of the rights of most matters concerning us; they blunder, they cause us misery, but they do it from ignorance, from an ignorance unavoidable under the system which they work on, and which, even did they wish it, they could not change without our help. Besides, though we of the new generation are growing up able to assist them and do much for the country, the whole of us put together have not yet sufficient experience and self-reliance to manage the administration entirely without their help. Kill the Europeans? No, Rambaksh, let us say, rather, God bless all of them (and there are many such) who feel kindly towards us in their hearts, and according to their lights mean well towards us, and God forgive those amongst them (and let us hope they are not many) who dislike and despise us, and care nothing what becomes of us. And whether the Government intend to take steps to punish the authors and distributors of these papers.

MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)

May I ask the hon. Gentleman before he replies, whether he is aware that the words copied in the question are not to be found in the "Congress Catechism" at all, but that they are in a separate and distinct publication, entitled "Conversations," and whether this very conversation is not given in the correspondence between Mr. A. O. Hume and Sir Auckland Colvin?

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) Chatham

The hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Bradlaugh) is quite correct, and he shows that he is a better authority in regard to the "Congress Catechism" than the hon. Baronet who gave notice of the Question. The hon. Member is quite correct in saying that the dialogue is not in the "Catechism," but in one of two separate pamphlets which the late Viceroy described as being of a very questionable character. The Secretary of State is aware that publications have been circulated in India, among which are the "Congress Catechism," and the "Conversations" referred to by the hon. Member, which are described by the late Viceroy as "animated by a very questionable spirit, and manifestly intended to excite the hatred of the people against the public servants of the Crown." But the Secretary of State is disposed to direct the efforts of Government to the better education rather than to the punishment of the authors and distributors of these papers.

MR. BRADLAUGH

May I ask whether the late Viceroy has not in express terms declared his belief in the desire of the National Congress to work loyally in bringing about internal reforms?

* SIR J. GORST

If the hon. Gentleman depends upon any particular words he must give me notice of the Question. On behalf of the Secretary of State, I may say that the Government are not desirous of joining in an indiscriminate condemnation of the Congress.