§ MR. CAINE (Cornwall, Camborne)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will state the cost of the evening party at the India Office on Friday last, and will the cost be charged to Indian or Imperial revenues.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingThe gathering alluded to was not an evening party, but a State ceremony of importance, commemorating the fact that for the first time in the history of this country the Sovereign, at his Coronation, occupied the position of Lord Paramount of India. The cost of this ceremony will be about £7,000, and, as I informed the House on June 20th, this will be charged to the revenues of India.
§ MR. CAINEHas the Government of India consented to have this amount charged to the Indian revenues?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONIt is not a question of consulting the Indian Government. The India Council is supreme.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIn view of the fact that these Indian gentlemen were guests of the King for the Coronation, I hope that the expense will not be allowed to fall on India. It is too mean.