§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether Lord Curzon has announced that American contributions for the relief of the famine in India would be thankfully received; and whether it is the intention of the Imperial Government to contribute any sum for the same purpose.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingI have no information from Lord Curzon to the effect suggested, but I have seen a short statement in the newspapers upon the subject, which I have no doubt is correct. These private contributions are not paid to Government, nor used so as to reduce the sums expended by Government upon relief of distress, or to cover in any way the work undertaken by Government. The money so collected is applied to certain defined purposes outside the sphere of Government operations, and its application is superintended by local committees of private individuals, but who work in co-operation with the Government authorities.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWill the Government consider the desirability of making a grant from Imperial funds towards the relief of the sufferers, seeing that the distress is so great that even private persons in America feel it a duty to subscribe?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONIf the hon. Member had listened to my answer, he would have heard me say that these private subscriptions are for purposes outside the sphere of Government operations.
§ MR. FLAVINStop the war.