§ MR. MACKARNESS (Berkshire, Newbury)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state the number of editors of newspapers and other journalists in India who are at present undergoing sentences of imprisonment or transportation; and how many Indian newspapers have been suppressed or temporarily suspended.
§ MR. BUCHANANI hope early next session to present a Return, on the Motion of the hon. Member for Nottingham, showing the prosecutions for seditious speeches and Writings in India since 1st January, 1907. According to the reports received by the Secretary of State, the Newspapers Act of 1908 has been put into force against one newspaper, while proceedings in the case of another are pending.
§ MR. MACKARNESSWill the Return bring the facts up to date?
§ MR. BUCHANANasked for notice.
§ MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)asked whether the Return, if granted, would give the caste of the offender in each case?
§ MR. BUCHANANsaid he did not think so.
§ MR. REESasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would arrange for that being done, in order that the nature and character of this opposition might be shown.
§ [No Answer was returned.]
§ MR. MACKARNESSCan the right hon. Gentleman give me the actual number of journalists now in prison?
§ MR. BUCHANANI cannot.
DR. RUTHERFORD (Middlesex, Brentford)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the frequency of raids and dacoities committed in British districts on the North-West Frontier of the Punjab by independent tribesmen who are in possession of modern European firearms, and resulting in loss of life and property and in the abduction of women, Whose husbands are unable to defend them because of the prohibition of firearms by the Government of India, he can inform the House what steps have been taken or are proposed to be taken, to remove the feeling of insecurity that prevails in that province.
§ MR. REESDoes the Under-Secretary accept the implication that the maladministration or ignorance of the Government concerned has produced a feeling of insecurity in the Punjab?
§ MR. BUCHANANNo, Sir. The Government of India have under consideration the question of what improvements are required in the existing system of protecting the British districts adjoining the administrative border against tribal raids. The issue of arms to villages exposed to attack has been sanctioned in certain cases where it seemed necessary.
§ MR. MACKARNESSI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India 1850 whether the Sessions Judge at Allahabad has sentenced Babu Ram, the youthful editor of the newspaper called Swarajya, to seven years transportation on three separate charges of sedition; and, if so, what was the nature of the offences which were so punished; and what previous convictions, if any, stood on record against the prisoner.
§ MR. BUCHANANThe Answer to the first Question is in the affirmative; the sentences run concurrently. The charges against the accused were brought under Section 124a of the Indian Penal Code, and had reference to several articles published in the newspaper mentioned; it is not known whether there were any previous convictions.
§ MR. MACKARNESSWhat is the age of this man?
§ MR. BUCHANANI do not know.
DR. RUTHERFORDI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of suspending the further operation of the Summary Jurisdiction Act until the reform scheme has been proclaimed and passed into law.
§ MR. BUCHANANAs I explained in reply to a question on Monday, the Act in question is already in force. The Secretary of State does not think it desirable to take the peculiar action suggested by the hon. Member.
DR. RUTHERFORDI beg to ask the Prime Minister if he will say when, in view of the blocking Motions placed on the Paper regarding the unrest in India, he will take the long-promised steps to prevent the House from being deprived of its constitutional right to discuss freely all matters of urgent national and imperial purport.
§ MR. REESBefore the Prime Minister answers this Question, will he say whether the House, as distinguished from a very small section thereof, does desire to discuss this subject at the present time?
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fifeshire, E.As I have frequently stated, I am prepared, if there is satisfactory evidence of general consent, to ask the House to adopt the recommendation of the Select Committee over which I presided. But no such evidence is so far forthcoming.