§ Considered in Committee; Committee report progress; to sit again upon Monday next.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."
MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)asked whether the Secretary of State for India could give the House any further information than that which had appeared in the Press as to the serious disaster in India; whether he could say what was the ascertained loss of life up to the present, and what steps the Government were taking to assist those in the afflicted area.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guild-ford)said he had no information with reference to the earthquake in India beyond that contained in the Viceroy's telegram which was published in that morning's newspapers. He had telegraphed to the Viceroy for further information. He feared there was no doubt that the catastrophe, at Dharmsala especially, was very serious. The fact that the Indian authorities had not been able to communicate freely with us showed, he feared, that the interruption of communications in India had been such as to prevent their obtaining authentic details. He would communicate to the Press any further information that might be obtained. All possible efforts with regard to relief would be used by the Indian Government.
§ Adjourned at twenty-two minutes before Six o'clock till Monday next.