§ SIR W. WEDDERBURN (Banff)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary 1213 of State for India will lay upon the Table of the House the Reports received by him from the Government of India with regard to the recent riots at Azamgarh, Balia, Rangoon, Bombay, and other places in India between Hindus and Mussulmans; and whether ho will direct the Government of India to appoint a mixed Commission of official and unofficial members to investigate the causes of such riots, and report on the best means to be adopted to remove these causes?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. G. RUSSELL,) North Beds.The only Reports, other than telegrams, as yet received by the India Office, are on the riots in Rangoon. There is no objection to laying them on the Table if moved for. A telegram was received from the Viceroy on the 4th July regarding the Azamgarh riots; and telegrams were received on the 12th, 13th, and 14th instant from the Governor of Bombay regarding the riots in Bombay. 'These latter were communicated to the newspapers. The Secretary of State has not yet received official Reports on the riots in the North-Western Provinces and Bombay. As my hon. Friend is aware, religious riots are of almost annual recurrence in India; and the Secretary of State does not, as at present advised, think it necessary to direct the Government of India to appoint a Commission, as suggested by my hon. Friend.