§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the penal provisions of the new Sedition Bill passed by the Government of India and the strong feeling that such provisions are a serious infringement of the constitutional rights of British subjects, this House may be given an opportunity of expressing its opinion on this measure before it is put into operation.
§ MR. ASQUITHThe Bill to which the hon. Member refers is not a Sedition Bill, but a Bill for dealing with murderous outrages and kindred offences. It has been passed, and is now in operation.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the effect of putting into operation of coercive measures of this kind before remedial measures is calculated to excite to outrage?
§ MR. ASQUITHThat is a matter of opinion.
§ MR. MACKARNESSwas understood to ask at what offences the Act was specially aimed?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe offences are set out in the Schedule of the Act which will, I believe, be circulated on Wednesday.