§ SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURNI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, whether it has been decided to reduce the garrison at Chitral; whether he will consider the advisability of withdrawing this garrison altogether from Chitral and Gilgit; and, if he could state what saving would be effected by such withdrawal.
§ LORD G. HAMILTONMy answer to the first clause of this question is in the affirmative. As to the possibility of with- 916 drawing the garrison altogether, I can only say that no proposal of that kind is before me, nor can I give any undertaking of the kind which the honourable Baronet desires. I am not able, without a reference to India, to state accurately what saving would be effected by such withdrawal.