§ SIR JOSEPH LEESE (Lancashire, Accrington)On behalf of the hon. Member for Dewsbury, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Bombay Chamber of Commerce has protested against the Cape Colony Immigration Act of last year, on the ground that British Indians should have the same rights enjoyed by all other subjects of His Majesty of going to and residing in any part of the King's dominions entirely unrestricted by legislation, and, if so, will he state what action in response to this protest has 1399 been taken by the Government of India or by His Majesty's Ministers.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordI am aware of the protest from the Bombay Chamber of Commerce referred to in the Question. The Cape Colony Immigration Act was passed by the Legislature of a self-governing colony, and closely resembles legislation which is in force in other British colonies. In these circumstances His Majesty's Government did not consider it possible to take any action of the kind suggested in the Question.