§ Mr. O'GRADYasked whether Mr. Merk, Chief Commissioner of the North-West Frontier Province, declined to receive a deputation representing the Punjab Hindu community on the subject of the riots which took place at Peshawar in March last, the deputation being composed of a number of leading Hindu and Sikh residents of Peshawar; and whether inquiries would be made as to the grounds of refusal, and also as to the breakdown of the official arrangements to cope with the disturbances named?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Secretary of State has no official information on any of the points referred to in the question. From the newspaper reports it appears that the Chief Commissioner's inability to receive the deputation was due to his absence from Peshawar on tour. The Secretary of State will inquire into the facts of the case.