§ Ms. REESTo ask the Secretary of State for India whether, during the present season of scarcity in India, steps are being taken to enforce the liability of ruling chiefs whose territories are affected to give relief to their own subjects; and whether the necessary steps are taken to distinguish between the subjects of such chiefs who take refuge on British relief works, in order that the responsibility for failure may be clearly brought home to the ruling chiefs in such cases, and not be attributed to the British administration.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) From the Reports I have received I have every reason to believe that the ruling chiefs of states affected by the droughts are duly mindful of their obligations towards their subjects and have made the necessary arrangements for their relief. The question of immigration from native states into British territory was fully considered by the Famine Commission of 1901, and suitable rules for the guidance of district officers acting in communication with political officers in native states have been incorporated into the Provincial Famine Relief Codes.