§ MR. BAINBRIDGEI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the campaign in South Africa has now assumed a grave relation to the important question of the maintenance of the British Empire, the Government will reconsider their expressed intention of not making use of the native Indian troops, especially in view of the special adaptability of the Ghoorka and Sikh regiments to the African climate, and of the probability of such regiments being brought into use in case of an invasion of Northern India, whether by white or coloured troops.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURFor reasons which the House I think understands and thoroughly appreciates it is not the intention of the Government to use native troops in Africa, but the hon. Gentleman appears to assume, by the last clause of his question, that native troops are not even to be used in the defence of India against any attack by any European Power. That, of course, is not the case.