§ MR. SEYMOUR KEAY (Elgin and Nairn)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have the power to set aside the Rulers of Native States in alliance with Her Majesty, without having first obtained the consent of the Home Government, as appears to have been done in the case of the Maharajah of Bhurtpore; and whether he will lay upon the Table Papers relating to the setting aside of this Prince?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. HENRY FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)In their dealings with the Rulers of Native States, as in other matters, the Government of India use their discretion whether or not to obtain the approval of the Secretary of State in Council before taking action. It is not for the public interest that the Papers relating to the Bhurtpore succession should be laid on the Table.