HC Deb 28 July 1893 vol 15 cc759-60
MR. GOSCHEN (St. George's, Hanover Square)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether he will cause to be laid upon the Table of the House a copy of the Abstract of the Proceedings of the Council of the Governor General of India, which met at Simla on Monday, the 26th of June, connected with the Indian Coinage and Paper Currency Bill?

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. G. RUSSELL, North Beds.)

The Papers have been for some time in the printer's hands, and will be laid on the Table in a few days.

MR. GOSCHEN

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the following passages from the speech delivered by Sir David Barbour on the Indian Coinage and Paper Currency Bill before the Council of the Governor General of India—namely, the making gold coins legal tender, the settlement of the permanent rate of exchange between gold and the silver rupee, and the other measures necessary for the final and effective establishment of a gold standard in India, will be provided for by future legislation and in the light of future experience, represents the view of Her Majesty's Government?

* SIR J. LUBBOCK (London University)

At present the rupee is legal tender to any extent. Is it proposed to make any change in that respect?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT, Derby)

The views of the Government are expressed in the telegram from the Secretary of State to the Viceroy on June 20, 1893. They are in the following terms:— Her Majesty's Government have decided to approve of the proposal of your Government to close the Mints to free coinage, and to make arrangements for the adoption of a gold standard subject to the recommendations of Lord Herschell's Committee, which your Government have accepted. You are, therefore, empowered forthwith to take the necessary steps That is the decision of the Government. As to the arrangements of the Indian Government for carrying out the determination of Her Majesty's Government, the right hon. Gentleman must address that question to the India Office.

MR. GOSCHEN

I understand that the words with regard to making gold coins legal tender are not in the telegram, and, therefore, need not be held to represent the views of Her Majesty's Government.

SIR W. HARCOURT

I think anybody reading the passage will see that the Government accept the principle of a gold standard, and they leave it to the Indian Government to make such arrangements as are expedient at the time or hereafter for giving effect to that principle. What these arrangements are is a matter that belongs to the Indian Government and the Indian Secretary here, and the right hon. Gentleman must, therefore, address any questions on the subject to the India Office.

* SIR J. LUBBOCK

May I ask for an answer to my question?

SIR W. HARCOURT

The question ought to be addressed to the India Office.

* SIR J. LUBBOCK

I will put the question to that Department.