§ *MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he proposes to lay any Papers revealing the history of the agitation against the constitution of the new Province of Eastern Bengal and Assam, the origin of such agitation in Calcutta, the encouragement of such agitation in England, and the intentions of the Government in respect of the maintenance of the existing administrative arrangements.
§ EARL PERCY (Kensington, S.)Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the expediency of laying Papers relating to the resignation of Sir Joseph Bampfylde Fuller, recently Lieutenant-Governor of Eastern Bengal, with a view to dispelling any misconception to which that resignation may have given rise.
§ MR. MORLEYAs regards the Question on the Paper, I consider it would be contrary in the highest degree to the public interest to present Papers such as the hon. Gentleman describes. As to the future, it has already been stated so often and so explicitly that His Majesty's Government look upon the partition of Bengal as a settled fact, that it appears superfluous to publish any further statement on the subject. In answer to the Question of the noble Lord, if he will ask for Papers I see no objection whatever in presenting to the House the Papers— not very voluminous—which immediately concern the resignation of Sir Bampfylde Fuller.
§ *MR. REESI have received Answers to the other Questions which I have on the Paper and will not trouble the right hon. Gentleman.