§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I wished to put a question to the Under Secretary of State for India, but as the right hon. Gentleman is prevented by illness from being in his place perhaps some other Member of the Government will reply to me. My question is whether the Government are in a position to give the House any information in regard to the Manipur disaster and, further, why the Despatches which the Under Secretary stated had been laid upon the Table on the 5th inst. have not been delivered to hon. Members. Is it usual for more than 10 days to be occupied in the printing of such Papers?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe Manipur Papers have been presented, and are now in the hands of the printers.
§ MR. CREMERThat is not the answer I had hoped to obtain from the Front Bench opposite. I wanted to know why the delay has taken place in the delivery of these Papers, and when the Despatches are likely to be in the hands of Members? Is it usual to take more than 10 days for the presentation of documents of a similar character?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSI cannot answer a question of that character. It depends entirely upon the printers.
§ MR. CREMERI am sorry to be compelled to rise again, but my question has not yet been answered. I do not know whether I am in Order, but I cannot help saying that, in my opinion, it is scarcely creditable to the Government to have a delay of this kind.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member is exceeding the bounds of a question.
§ MR. CREMERIt is now 10 days since I asked a question of a similar character, and I then succeeded in obtaining no information whatever. [Cries of "Order!"] I do not think it is fair that I should be put off with a statement that the Despatches have been laid upon the Table. I am endeavouring to ascertain why 10 days should have been allowed to elapse without the 706 Papers being delivered to hon. Members.
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThere has been no unnecessary delay so far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned. As soon as the Despatches were received they were laid upon the Table, and as soon as they are printed they will be delivered.
§ MR. CREMERWhat I want to know is when they will be delivered?
§ MR. BRYCEI wish also to put a question in regard to these Papers. It was the intention of certain Members of this House to have raised a discussion in regard to the Manipur affairs upon the Motion for Adjournment for the holidays, but we are prevented from doing so, partly because the Motion for Adjournment will be made at the end of the business to-morrow, and partly because the Papers have not been delivered, although they were laid on the Table on the 5th instant. Perhaps, under the circumstances, I may be allowed to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the absence of the First Lord of the Treasury, whether we are to understand that when the Papers are delivered the Government will afford an opportunity of discussing the affairs of Manipur?
§ MR. GOSCHENIt would be somewhat difficult, I think, in the unfortunate absence of my right hon. Friend the Under Secretary for India, to discuss these matters satisfactorily. I think that hon. Members opposite will agree with me that it would not be right to insist upon a discussion when the Minister who is mainly responsible in this House is prevented by illness from being present in his place. I may say that Her Majesty's Government fully recognise the importance of the question, and they have no desire to withdraw it from the full notice of the House. In the absence of my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Treasury, who is also prevented by illness from being in his place, I should not like to give a pledge as to when the discussion can be taken.