§ *MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has any information which he can communicate to the House regarding the distribution of a circular, purporting to be issued by a society in Bengal styled the Golden Bough, in which circular the recipients are asked to promise to break the nests of the Feringhi (European) birds, tearing them in pieces, and throwing them into the Ganges, to beat the sahibs (Europeans) 111 of the city, and to drive them away, that the Hindus may govern their own country, and in which the Mohammedans are informed that their Hindu brothers have great hope of them, and in which the recipients are asked to bring anything they can get, lathis (clubs), spears, and guns; and, if so, whether any action will be taken against the printers and publishers of such incitements to rebellion and treason.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. MORLEY, Montrose Boroughs)The circular described in the Question appeared, under the heading "Golden Bengal," some fifteen months ago. So far as my information goes, the police are unable to fix definitely the responsibility for printing or publishing it.
§ *MR. REESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a Bengali agitator addressing employees of the East Indian Railway at Asansol on 5th September last, in the presence of a magistrate and officer of police informed his hearers that sugar was refined with pig's and cow's blood, that Babu Bannerjee had been crowned King or Emperor of Hindustan, that the English had fattened on dog's meat and grown bold, and that Japan had shown them what Asiatics could do; and whether the Government of India proposes to take any action in view to preventing the debauching of ignorant multitudes by such discourses.
§ MR. MORLEYI am not aware whether the Government of India propose to take any action; but no doubt they will give attention to the subject.