§ MR. BAUMANN (Camberwell, Peckham)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Secretary of State has been called to the following statement which appeared in the Times of the 21st April: —
On Lord Reay's departure from Bombay, at the moment of embarkation, the Municipal Council presented a farewell address. His Lordship, in replying, said that during his five years period of office his object had been to carry out strictly the principle of Her Majesty's Proclamation, which was the Magna Charta of the humblest labourer no less than the noblest Chief in the land, and that when what he considered a grave departure from those principles was ordered from England he at once tendered his resignation;and whether Lord Reay did, in fact, tender his resignation; and, if so, why such resignation was not accepted?
* SIR J. GORSTThe Secretary of State has seen the statement in the Times, but cannot believe that Lord Reay's speech has been accurately reported, as Lord Reay, whatever may have been his intentions, did not, in fact, tender his resignation.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHHas not a Despatch reached the Secretary of State in connection with Lord Reay's action concerning the Mamlatdars; and, if so, why has it not been included in the Papers laid before the House?
* SIR J. GORSTNo, Sir; no Despatch which could be construed into a tender of resignation on the part of Lord Reay has reached the Secretary of State.