HC Deb 30 July 1912 vol 41 cc1822-3
7. Mr. GEORGE GREENWOOD

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to a claim of the Coupé Company, of 47, Graham Street, Sloane Square, S.W., against His Highness the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar for £900 in respect of work done and designs supplied to his order in connection with His Highness's proposed summer palace; whether he is aware that correspondence has taken place between the early part of 1908 and the present time between His Highness's agents, private secretary, and solicitors, on the one side, and the company and their solicitors on the other side, and that such correspondence discloses the fact that His Highness has repudiated the claim in question; and whether any steps have been taken by the Secretary of State in the case?

Mr. MONTAGU

The attention of the Secretary of State has been drawn to the correspondence referred to, the effect of which is as stated by my hon. Friend. His Highness the Jam Sahib has not asked the Secretary of State to advise him, and it has not hitherto been the practice of the India Office to intervene between ruling chiefs and their private creditors.

Mr. GREENWOOD

May I ask if the Jam Sahib claims to be above the jurisdiction of British laws, and if the claim is admitted is there any means by which British subjects can obtain payment of debt since he refuses to submit the matter to arbitration, or whether he can be induced to submit to arbitration. This is only one of a very great number of cases.

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member is not entitled to interpolate the last observation into his question.

Mr. GREENWOOD

May I have an answer? I apologise for having inadvertently gone beyond a question.

Mr. MONTAGU

These matters are of very great importance as the hon. Member will appreciate, because any statement in one case must govern in the other cases. I would therefore rather confine myself to the answer already given.

Mr. KING

May I ask whether the hon. Gentleman has received complaints of a similar nature of other cases arising out of this gentleman's action?