§ Mr. MACKARNESSasked the Under-Secretary for India whether he has any official information that Mr. Lajpat Rai, who was deported in 1907 without charge 1841 or trial by the Government of India for alleged sedition, has brought an action against the "Englishman" newspaper of Calcutta for libelling him by alleging that he had been guilty of sedition in that he had tampered with the loyalty of the Indian sepoys, and that Mr. Justice Fletcher, of the Calcutta High Court, after hearing the evidence of Mr. Lajpat Rai, held the statement to be a malicious libel upon him and awarded him damages to the amount of £l,000?
§ Mr. REESMay I ask the hon. Member whether an appeal lies, and whether he has any information that an appeal has been presented?
§ Mr. MACKARNESSWould it not be in the interests of justice, in view of the charge made on the floor of this House two years ago, that the truth should be declared here at the earliest possible moment, if that charge has been disproved and found utterly false by a judge of the High Court?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThe Secretary of State has taken into consideration all these matters, and he has asked for a mailed Report of the proceedings.
§ Mr. MACKARNESSWhen shall we be entitled to know the result?
§ Mr. MACKARNESSasked whether the cases of the nine British subjects in Bengal who were deported and imprisoned without charge or trial in December last were reconsidered by the Government of India on 1st July; and, if so, would he state what decision was arrived at and the grounds for that decision?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThe Secretary of State has no doubt that the provisions of the Regulation in this respect have been complied with, but he has received no communication on the subject from the Government of India. He will inquire.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member has a great many questions to ask. Will he put them down.