HC Deb 16 November 1911 vol 31 cc505-6
Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, having regard to the fact that the Abor expedition is admittedly a punitive expedition in which innocent persons may suffer loss of life and property, the offer of the Abors to make reparation, and the question as to whether that expedition could be legally undertaken without the consent of Parliament or financed by money not voted by Parliament, the opportunity of the visit of the King to India may be taken for the extension of amnesty to the people of that district?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH

There is no question as to the legality of the Abor expedition: everything is being done in strict accord with a long series of precedents. I have no knowledge of any offer of the Abors to make reparation, and, having regard to the history and condition of these tribes, the hon. Member's suggestion in the last part of the question does not appear practicable or profitable.

Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

asked by whom and at what date has it been decided that the Abor district is inside the external frontiers of British-India, although on all maps issued under the authority of the Indian Government that territory is placed outside the external frontiers of India; and whether, having regard to the fact that the 55th Section of the Act of 1858, providing that military expeditions outside the external frontiers of India must be conducted with moneys provided by Parliament and not at the expense of the Indian revenues, will the Secretary of State consider the advisability of submitting the interpretation of the 55th Section of the Act of 1858 in its relation to the Abor expedition to some independent authority instead of adopting the interpretation of that Section which places the Abor expedition beyond the sphere of Parliamentary control?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question of the 14th instant. As regards the second part, the hon. Member's description of Section 55 of the Act of 1858 has no relation to the actual provisions of the Section, but this is not material, as the interpretation put upon that Section by the Secretary of State is that which has always been accepted by Parliament, and there is, therefore, no reason to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.