§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, what is the total expenditure that has been incurred by the Government of India in respect of the recent expedition to Tibet.
§ MR. BUCHANAN (Perthshire, E.)I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for India what is the total cost of the Tibetan Expedition; and will the Government, in view of the Imperial interests involved, pay the whole or a part of the cost out of the Imperial Exchequer.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guild-ford)The total expenditure on the Tibet Mission, up to the 31st January last, was £812,736.
§ MR. BRYCEThat is not the full cost. I suppose we may take it that there is other expenditure not yet ascertained.
§ MR. BRODRICKAs far as I am aware all the main items of the cost are here included.
§ MR. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in the despatch to the Government of India it was stated that Imperial interests must be superior in the settlement of this question? That being so, is there not a ground for the Imperial Exchequer sharing part of the expenses?
§ MR. BRODRICKAny pressure which has been brought to bear on the Indian Governmentin regard to Imperial interests was not towards increasing, but limiting the cost.