HC Deb 14 June 1906 vol 158 cc1130-2
MR. O'GRADY

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to a case in which two soldiers on the road to Simla demanded some soda water from a native, and that they were duly supplied with what they wanted, but that when payment was demanded one of the soldiers raised his rifle and shot the native in the chest, the billet passing out of his back; and whether, having regard to the frequency of these incidents in India. this † See (4) Debates, clvii., 1413. ease being the fifth of its kind during the present year, he will address the Government of India with a view to taking stringent measures to prevent their recurrence.

MR. LEA

May I be permitted, Sir, before the Question is answered, to enter a protest against the wording of the Question?

*MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member may ask a Question.

MR. LEA

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, considering that there are 80,000 white soldiers in India, even it be true that there have been five cases of shooting during the year, he thinks that justifies putting the Question in this way?

MR. MORLEY

I rather sympathise with what has fallen from the hon. Gentleman behind me. I have no information as to the case stated in the Question, but if the hon. Member who put the Question will give me the necessary information, I will make inquiries.

MR. O'GRADY

Am I to understand that the Government are in sympathy with the shooting of black people in this way?

MR. MORLEY

I cannot think that that is a Question I can be expected to answer.

MR. O'GRADY

Is it the fact that four cases have already been proved to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State for India?

*SIR H. COTTON

There is a report of this case in the Indian newspapers by this mail.

MR. MORLEY

Need I say that if these cases are accurately reported, and some, I am afraid, have been accurately reported, I will at once give them my most prompt and earnest attention? Nobody has a more complete detestation of such acts than I have.

MR. O'GRADY

The effect of the right hon. Gentleman's Answer has been to indicate some kind of approval of this procedure. That is the effect of the right hon. Gentleman's Answer. It bore that interpretation.