§ MR. MACLEAN (Cardiff)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having in view the increased and unparalleled intensity of the famine in India and the inadequate response made in this country to the Lord Mayor's appeal to public charity, Her Majesty's Government will reconsider their determination not to make a national grant to India.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA SUHY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)The famine in India is, as my hon. friend has justly observed, of a very serious character, but ray noble friend the Secretary of State for India is most carefully watching the progress of events, and if it be needful to apply to the Imperial Parliament for assistance, that appeal will be made without hesitation. I ought to add that the Government of India do not anticipate any difficulty at present in providing needful relief.