§ SIR H. COTTON (Nottingham, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the two circulars issued by the Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam on the 8th November, 1905, have been completely or only partially withdrawn, and especially whether that portion of the second circular which relates to the prohibition of political or quasi-political meetings in public places has been withdrawn; and whether the circular of the Government of Bengal No. 1679 P—D, dated the 10th October, 1905, directed against schoolboys and authorising the enrolment as special constables of headmasters and teachers of schools and those connected with their management, has been withdrawn.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. MORLEY, Montrose Burghs)The Lieutenant-Governor of Eastern Bengal and Assam has withdrawn all restrictions on public meetings and processions imposed by previous orders. The other circular of the Government of Bengal is of a completely different character. It was directed against acts of violence and breaches of the peace in connection with the boycotting of British goods, and the instructions were to have 1414 effect only in cases where mischief had actually occurred. One object of the circular was to induce the educational authorities to enforce discipline upon schoolboys and students, instead of leaving them to be dealt with by policemen and magistrates. So far as I know it has not been formally withdrawn.
§ SIR H. COTTONHas it been enforced? Have the teachers and others concerned in the management of the schools been enrolled as special constables for the control of the schoolboys?
§ MR. MORLEYI believe there was some circular inviting them to be enrolled as special constables. As far as I understand it, they were not enrolled as special constables because they were heads of schools and colleges; but they were invited as the heads of these institutions to deal with their students rather than allow them to continue unruly—a course which must have brought them into conflict with the police.
§ SIR H. COTTONSpecial constables are not invited to enrol, but are compelled to serve, under an order of the magistrate.
§ MR. MORLEYSpecial constables were enrolled in the event of disorders taking place and being persisted in. The magistrates were directed to enrol schoolmasters as special constables so that they might identify the boys and deal with them as schoolboys instead of as criminals. That was a very sensible provision.
§ SIR H. COTTONWere not the headmasters competent to control the boys without that?
§ [No Answer was returned.]