HC Deb 27 July 1903 vol 126 cc325-6
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that the Governor-General of India has obtained from the Maharajah of Benares a suite of ivory furniture presented to a former Maharajah by the British Government for services rendered in the Indian Mutiny, and which has been regarded as an heirloom in the Maharajah's family, and that in exchanged for this gift the Governor-General gave the Maharajah a rifle of the value of about twenty guineas, he will state whether this furniture, which was sent from Benares to Calcutta by the Maharajah at his own expense to Lord Curzon at Calcutta, was, in accordance with practice, deposited in the Tosha Khana or Treasure House, and after a time sold in accordance with law by auction, the proceeds being credited to the British Treasury, or is in the possession of Lord Curzon; and, if it is still in the possession of Lord Curzon, or if it was presented to him by the Maharajah, not spontaneously, but owing Maharajah, not spontaneously, but owing to suggestion, will it be immediately restored to its former owner.

* THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing)

I have ascertained the following facts from the Viceroy. The ivory furniture in question, which was said to have belonged to a former British resident, was lying in an unoccupied house in a very dilapidated condition. The Viceroy, having ascertained that the Maharajah took no interest in it, offered to buy it. The Maharajah declined the offer and said he would present it, but the Viceroy explained that according to Tosha Khana rules he could not accept a present. Having ascertained that the Maharajah, who was fond of sporting weapons, would like a first-rate rifle, the Viceroy ordered one at a cost of £81, which he exchanged for the furniture. The furniture, after it had been restored at a cost of £30 by the Viceroy, was valued by an expert as worth £100.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

And where is it now?

* LORD GEORGE HAMILTON

was understood to say that it belonged to the Viceroy.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

complained that his former Question on this subject had been suppressed by the Press.