§ Colonel YATEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether a reduction of the Army in India is to be proposed?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)The hon. and gallant Member is aware that the Financial Member of the Government of India, speaking in January last in the Governor-General's Legislative Council on Mr. Cokhale's motion regarding the increase of public expenditure, announced that the Commander-in-Chief was about to institute an inquiry with a view to the reduction of all unnecessary military expenditure. The Government of India's recommendations in pursuance of this inquiry have not yet been received by the Secretary of State. His Majesty's Government do not contemplate any reduction of the British forces serving in India, but they are fully prepared to consider favourably the proposals that the Government of India may find it in their power to make for effecting such readjustments in the native Indian units, with a view to economy, as could be carried out without loss of efficiency to the Army in India as a whole.