§ SIR G. CHESNEY (Oxford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, with reference to the proceedings of the Opium Commission as reported in the newspapers, Her Majesty's Government are able to announce that no part of the cost of that Commission shall be borne by the Revenues of India?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. H. H. FOWLER,) Wolverhampton, E.There is no intention of departing from the arrangement arrived at last year as to the distribution between the Indian and the British Exchequer of the cost of the Opium Commission, which was communicated to the House by the late Prime Minister.
§ SIR D. MACFARLANE (Argyll)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if there is any precedent for charging the Revenues of India with any portion of the cost of a Commission issued for this country, which was neither asked for nor desired by India?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERIf notice is given of that question I will investigate the matter.