§ SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the petition of the Calcutta Bar against the new legislation regarding sedition, and the contention therein contained that any native Indian subject of Her Majesty who petitions Parliament against alleged oppression, and thereby excites any feeling of enmity against the Government of India, will now be liable to transportation for life; and whether, looking to the provisions of Section 22 of the Indian Councils Act of 1861, he will take care that the privileges of Parliament are not infringed?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAI have seen a letter purporting to be written on behalf of the Calcutta Bar, and containing the contention to which the hon. Baronet refers, and which, on the face of it, is absurd. I see no necessity for any special precautions to protect the privileges of Parliament.
§ SIR W. WEDDERBURNHas the noble Lord any reason to doubt that the petition came from the Calcutta Bar?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAI have no reason to doubt that, Sir.
§ SIR W. WEDDERBURNI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he proposes to bring under the review of Parliament the effect upon the liberty of the Press of the recent Acts passed by the Government of India dealing with the law of sedition?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAI intend, as I have more than once stated, to lay the Acts on the Table of the House as soon as I have considered them, but I do not propose to take any other steps in connection with them.