§ MR. C. J. O'DONNELL (Newington Walworth)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether the deputations of European merchants interested in 195 Indian commerce and of English chairmen of Indian railways, who approached him last Tuesday to state certain trade grievances, did so through the regular official channels, that is, with the sanction of the Viceroy of India; and whether he will now reconsider his refusal to receive a deputation of Bengali noblemen and merchants, who desire to lay before him the injury to their properties and to the internal trade of the country, besides other grievances due to their being now placed, by the partition of Bengal, under two administrations.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I am not aware of any reason why a body of English railway directors and English merchants, resident in this country, should address me on a financial question through the Government of India. I fail to see the connection of the second part of the Question with the first, but the Answer to it is in the negative.