§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, if he is in possession of any information which can be given to the House without injury to the public service as to the means by which the Queen's enemies in the operations on the North-West Frontier have obtained possession of the latest arms of precision, and particularly of Lee-Metford magazine rifles and dumdum bullets, as reported by press correspondents. And if it is proposed to institute any inquiry into the subject by a Commission armed with special powers to ascertain if any of Her Majesty's subjects have been guilty of such traitorous traffic, and if fresh legislation on the subject is necessary either here or in India?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingMy attention has been given to the subject referred to in the hon. and gallant Member's Question, and in October last I called for a full report on the description of arms and ammunition found in the possession of the tribesmen. Pending its receipt, it would not be in the public interests for me to make any further communication to the House.