HC Deb 14 April 1910 vol 16 cc1409-10
Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

asked the Under-Secretary for India, if a warrant has been issued against Mr. Arabindo Ghose for an article which appeared in the "Kharmayogin" on 25th December; whether warrants have been issued against the publishers of the paper as well; if so, under what law these warrants have been issued; and whether a copy of the paper containing the offending article can be placed in the Library for the information of Members?

Mr. REES

Before the hon. Gentleman answers, may I inquire if the seatless syndicate which supplies these questions has not shown that it has no desire that seditious persons should be brought to justice.

Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

Is it in order for one hon. Member to characterize questions put by another hon. Member as having been put by a secret—

Mr. REES

Seatless.

Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

Quite apart from the meaning of the adjective the offensiveness of the question is perfectly apparent, and I want to know whether any hon. Member is allowed to characterize the questions of another hon. Member in this way?

Mr. REES

I withdraw the word "seatless" if it gives offence. I meant, of course, that they had no seats in this House.

The UNDERSECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. The Secretary of State is not aware of the issue of any other warrants in this matter, and he is informed that the warrant for the arrest of Mr. Ghose has been issued under Section 124a, Indian Penal Code. I may add that considerable delay occurs just now in obtaining information, and I must ask my hon. Friend to exercise some patience in the matter while the fullest information is being procured. At the present time the Secretary of State would rather not commit himself to the undertaking asked for in the last part of the question.

Mr. REES

asked whether the Secretary for India will consider the propriety of placing in the library copies of the last will and testament of still-surviving Arabinda Ghose, for whose arrest a warrant is said to have been issued in India, and copies of some of the numerous issues of the newspaper, for which he is responsible, containing articles hostile to British rule and British officials in India and encouraging sedition?

Mr. MONTAGU

The Secretary of State cannot accede to my hon. Friend's request. He must not, however, be taken to accept his description of writings the character of which is a subject for trial.