§ Mr. MACKARNESSasked the Under-Secretary whether he has received any official information to the effect that Mrs. Krishna Kumar Mitra has seriously suffered in health owing to the anxiety caused to her by the deportation without charge or trial and the prolonged imprisonment of her husband; and, if not, whether he would make inquiries?
§ Mr. MACKARNESSWill the hon. Gentleman make inquiries, and may I ask him whether it is not a fact that this lady has made application to the Government of India to join her husband, and has been refused?
§ Mr. MACKARNESSWill the hon. Gentleman make inquiry?
§ Mr. HART-DAVIESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will take into consideration the desirability of associating the publication of the new reform scheme in India with some graceful act of conciliation, such as the release of the gentlemen deported some time ago, under Regulation III. of 1818?
§ The following questions on the same subject also stood upon the Paper:—
Dr. RUTHERFORDasked the Prime Minister how much longer the nine Bengali gentlemen who were arrested and deported last December, without charge or trial, are to be deprived of the liberty to which every British subject is entitled?
§ Mr. MACKARNESSasked whether, in view of the near approach of the prorogation of Parliament, and the fact that for nearly a year nine British subjects have been imprisoned in common gaols in India without having at any time been informed of any offence committed by them or tried for any crime against the law, he will make some statement to the House in justification of the continued detention of these gentlemen, and say for how long His Majesty's Government intend to sanction it?
§ Mr. ALDENasked the Prime Minister whether he will be able, before the House rises, to make any statement as to the intentions of the Government respecting the nine British subjects who were deported from Bengal and imprisoned last year without charge or trial?
§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the Prime Minister whether it is his intention before Parliament rises to give the House any information as to the grounds on which His Majesty's Government justify the pro- 349 longed imprisonment of the nine British subjects who were deported from Bengal nearly a year ago without having been charged with or convicted of any offence against the law?
§ Mr. GEORGE GOOCHasked whether His Majesty's Government will consider the desirability of liberating the nine Indians, deported 11 months ago, on the inauguration of the reforms; and, if not, whether he will inform the House what circumstances justify their further detention?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to the question of the hon. Member for Hackney, and perhaps I may answer the other questions at the same time. I would refer my hon. Friends to my reply to questions with a similar object on 17th June. I can only add that the Secretary of State and the Government of India are fully alive to all the circumstances and arguments of the case, and have the matter under their especial consideration, with a view to release at the earliest moment when the general situation admits.
§ Mr. MACKARNESSMay I ask the Prime Minister whether the Secretary of State did not say that the reasons for these deportations was that the reforms might be carried out in tranquillity, and not under conditions of unrest, and whether now that these reforms are carried into law there is any reason for their further detention?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is the question I have answered.
§ Sir HENRY COTTONMay I further ask the Prime Minister, seeing that the reason for the detention of these gentlemen, is preventive and not punitive, he will direct that they shall not be detained in prison, but otherwise in a manner consistent with public security.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have said the Government of India and His Majesty's Government have this matter under special consideration with a view to release at the earliest possible moment.