§ MR. C. J. O'DONNELL (Newington, Walworth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has any official information showing that there is a subsidence of the feeling against redistribution of Bengal; if so, whether he will lay it upon the Table; and whether he can explain how a partition based on the formation of a new Western Province, consisting of Behar and Chota Nagpur, a redistribution strongly favoured by the inhabitants of these areas and acceptable to the people of Bengal, would involve more taxation than the partition recently sanctioned.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI have no information at present as to the subsidence of local feeling against the partition of Bengal which I can lay on the Table of the House. As regards the latter part of the Question, I understand that, since the matter was decided last June, considerable expenditure has already been incurred in establishing the new head quarters at Dacca, which would be thrown away if the matter were re opened, and a capital established elsewhere, involving a further expenditure. As regards the opinion of the inhabitants of the areas mentioned in the Question, I must not be understood as making any admission.
§ MR. C. J. O'DONNELLWith regard to the first part of my Question, is it not stated in this morning's paper that at a public meeting at Calcutta a bonfire was made of British goods, thus showing the strong feeling that exists?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI have not had time yet to read this morning's papers.
§ MR. C. J. O'DONNELLIs the right hon. Gentleman going to wait until a prison is blown up?