§ *MR. C. J. O'DONNELL (Newington, Walworth)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary 2374 of State for India if, before Parliament meets again, he will obtain, in regard to the partition of Bengal, the opinions of all retired members of the Bengal Civil Service now resident in the United Kingdom who are ex-lieutenant governors, ex-members of the Legislative Council of Bengal, or who have held the office of commissioner of a division, and lay such opinions upon the Table of the House.
I beg also to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India if, before Parliament meets again, he will obtain, in regard to the partition of Bengal, the opinions and advice of the Maharajas, Nawabs, and Rajas of Bengal proper, which province was divided into two portions by that measure; and whether he will lay such opinions on the Table of the House.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BUCHANAN, Perthshire, E.)The Secretary of State is not disposed to take the action suggested in the Questions of my hon. friend.
§ *MR. C. J. O'DONNELLMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is willing to give the House the most experienced and independent official opinion, and also the opinion of the most loyal section of the Bengal community?
§ MR. BUCHANANThe Secretary of State has no desire to undervalue the opinion of either class, but he does not think it would, at the present moment, serve any useful purpose to take the action suggested.
§ *MR. C. J. O'DONNELLMay the House hope to have the information later?
§ MR. BUCHANANI am afraid I cannot go further than I have already stated.
§ MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)Has there not been a satisfactory consensus of the greater part of public opinion in favour of this measure as evidenced by the resolutions passed by loyal Hindus, Mahomedans, and Christians in Bengal?
§ MR. BUCHANANI am not disposed to say either yea or nay.
§ *MR. C. J. O'DONNELLasked when, how or where these resolutions were passed.
§ MR. BUCHANANI have not that information.