§ The PRIME MINISTERI beg leave to inform the House at the earliest possible moment that the King-Emperor this morning made the following announcement at the Durbar:—
We are pleased to announce to Our People that on the advice of Our Ministers tendered after consultation with Our Governor-General in Council, We have decided upon the transfer of the seat of the Government of India from Calcutta to the ancient Capital Delhi, and, simultaneously and as a consequence of that transfer, the creation at as early a date as possible of a Governorship for the Presidency of Bengal, of a new Lieutenant-Governorship in Council administering the areas of Behar, Chota Nagpur and Orissa, and of a Chief Commissionership of Assam, with such administrative changes and redistribution of boundaries as Our Governor-General in Council with the approval of Our Secretary of State for India in Council may in due course determine. It is Our earnest desire that these changes may conduce to the better administration of India and the greater prosperity and happiness of Our beloved People.I may add that the official correspondence between the Secretary of State in 2155 Council and the Governor-General in Council together with the text of this announcement, and an announcement of other boons by the Governor-General has been printed as a Parliamentary Paper, which will be available at the Vote Office to-day.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt is obvious to the House that the statement which the right hon. Gentleman has just made announces changes of the utmost gravity to the Government of India. At this moment I only wish to make one comment. I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will be the first to recognise that this is a subject which ought to be discussed in this House. I am doubtful, however, whether it would be to the public advantage to discuss it now. I say this, not because we are at the fag-end of the Session, but because His Majesty is in India, and I am inclined to think that it would be very undesirable for any discussion to take place here which might even be critical in regard to something which has just been done in the person of His Majesty himself. I have not had time to consult my colleagues, and I am sure if, after consultation with them, we think the time ought to be given for a discussion, probably the right hon. Gentleman will be prepared to consider our request.
§ The PRIME MINISTERCertainly. This is a matter of so much gravity that obviously it must be subject to Parliamentary discussion. I share the view which the right hon. Gentleman has expressed that it would not be desirable that discussion should take place at the present moment until hon. Members have had ample opportunity of seeing the documents and considering all the arguments there set out, and more particularly while His Majesty the King is absent.