§ MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India who is responsible for the issue of Dum-dum bullets to the troops in India; and whether the India Office has any information as to the effect of these bullets on men or animals?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingThese bullets were issued by order of the Government of India. No further sanction for their issue was necessary, nor was any such sanction either asked for or given; but Her Majesty's Government were fully informed as to the proceedings of the Government of India, and saw no reason for questioning their propriety. On the 1st of March I gave the hon. Member the substance of such information as I had as to the effect of the bullets, and added that I had asked the Government of India for reports on the subject. Those reports have not yet reached me, and are not likely to do so for some time to come.
§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office on what grounds he holds that the use of Dum-dum bullets is not contrary to the declaration of St. Petersburg?
§ MR. BRODRICKBecause the Dum-dum bullet is "neither explosive nor charged with a fulminating or inflammable substance." These are the words of the Convention. I may repeat, what has already been stated to the House, that the Dum-dum bullet does not, as a rule, inflict nearly so severe a wound as was inflicted by the Snider bullet.
§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether Dum-dum bullets have been served out to any troops directly under the control of the War Office; and who is responsible for the supply of these bullets to troop serving in West Africa?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe Dum-dum bullet has not been issued to any troops directly under the control of the War Office. With regard to West Africa, I must refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of the 15th inst.