§ MR. O'GRADYI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the provocative writings in the Anglo-Indian Press in India towards Native opinions and constitutional reform movements; and whether, in view of the fact that such writings excite disaffection towards the Government, the provisions of the Penal Code will be applied to such Anglo Indian papers as to those papers already suppressed under the terms of the code.
§ MR. BUCHANANWithout expressing any opinion as to the effect of the articles referred to by the hon. Member, I may say that the provisions of the Indian Penal Code of course apply to the Anglo-Indian Press, as to all other Indian publications, and would in case of necessity be enforced in the same way as against other papers. Papers are not "suppressed" under the terms of the Code.
§ MR. O'GRADYWill the India Office take into consideration the advisability of defining under the Penal Code what is sedition?
§ MR. BUCHANANThat is a much wider subject, which hardly arises out of the Question on the Paper.
§ MR. O'GRADYIs the word "disaffection" to be denned as sedition, and in view of the fact that the Anglo-Indian Press make people disaffected will they come under the terms of the Penal Code?
§ MR. BUCHANANI cannot answer that. The prosecutions have taken place under Article 124 of the Code, and to that I must refer the hon. Member.