HC Deb 15 October 1908 vol 194 cc460-1
SIR H. COTTON

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the case of the editor of the Hari Kishore, in the Central Provinces, who has been sentenced to five years hard labour for reprinting from another journal matter declared to be seditious, and to the confiscation of the press where this newspaper was printed, although it was not the property of the editor; and whether he will make inquiries into the facts of this case with a view to the reversal or modification of the sentence.

MR. BUCHANAN

The Secretary of State is acquainted with the facts of this case. He is aware of no reason for taking the exceptional action suggested by the hon. Member.

SIR H. COTTON

Is it the fact that the article for publishing which the paper was prosecuted was a reprint of an editorial in the Calcutta Englishman?

MR. BUCHANAN

I have no information to that effect.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

Was the paper in which the article originally appeared prosecuted?

MR. BUCHANAN

That I cannot say. The information we have is not to the effect stated in the Question.

SIR H. COTTON

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that prosecutions of this character cause bitter and envenomed feelings—

*MR. SPEAKER

That is a matter of opinion.