MR. NAOROJI (Finsbury, E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether, in order to enable this House to form a correct judgment of the progress, if any, in the condition of India, he will give to the House information about the condition of India in past years to compare with the present condition: and whether for that purpose he will reconsider his decision, and lay before Parliament the Note of Sir David Barbour upon which Lord Cromer, as Finance Minister, based a statement, and also another similar one to date?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. GEORGE. RUSSELL,) North Beds.A Report, on the Moral and Material Progress of India is annually given to Parliament; and the Report, which is now in course of 194 preparation, will, according to custom, contain a review of the last 10 years. For the reasons given on the 27th April, the Secretary of State is unable to lay on the Table the confidential Note to which my hon. Friend refers.
MR. NAOROJII beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether Lord Lytton's Note, being specifically referred to in the Despatch of the Government of India dated 2nd May, 1878, [C. 2376] of 1879, and being therefore necessary to be also returned, in order to understand fully the significance of paragraph 14 of the Despatch, the Secretary of State for India will reconsider his decision, obtain a copy from the Government of India, and lay it before Parliament?
§ MR. GEORGE RUSSELLIn reply to my hon. Friend's question, which is really a repetition of that which he put to me on the 27th April, I am afraid I can add nothing to what I said on that occasion.