§ MR. LYNCHI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to a speech recently delivered by Lord Kitchener in the Legislative Council of India to the effect that weighty reasons, affecting the external and internal security of India, militated against any reduction of the military charges; whether he can state the nature of those external reasons; and whether the Government of India contemplate taking any steps towards curtailing the expenditure in connection with the defences of the North-West Frontier as a result of the Anglo-Russian Convention
§ MR. BUCHANANThe Secretary of State has seen a report, but is engaged in correspondence with the Government of India on the important subject to which my hon. friend refers, and is not able to make any statement at the present stage. Perhaps when the discussion of the Budget comes on in this House I may be able to deal with the points raised by my hon. friend.