MR. J. H. ROBERTSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will state for what length of time the present British Resident at the Court of His Highness the Nizam, Mr. Plowden, has held that post; at what date will his tenure of office terminate; whether last year the relations between the Residency and the Nizam were strained; whether any of the recent orders relating thereto, presented by the Government of India, will be presented to Parliament; and whether a copy of the Resolution, recently presented by the Council of the Umras, appointed by the Nizam in Octo- 1164 ber, 1897, relating to the Report by the local Comptroller General on the finances of the Hyderabad States, will be shortly laid before Parliament?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThe present Resident was appointed to his post in March, 1892, and, subject to the pleasure of the Governor-General, may continue to hold it until, under the rules, he retires from the service. In the interest of the public service I do not think it advisable to make any statement as to the relations between British Residents and the Native Princes with whom they have to deal, nor do I propose to present any papers on the affairs of Hyderabad.