Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) whether he is prepared to receive representations on the subject of the guardianship of the Crown made for His Majesty at Delhi; whether, considering it is to be paid for by the Indian people, the Indian Government would be willing to consider the possibility of its being housed and guarded in one of the chief Indian cities, with the object of ultimately finding for it a home in the new capital of Delhi; (2) whether it has been decided that the Crown made for His Majesty the King on the occasion of the Durbar is to be kept in future in this country; whether the cost was defrayed by moneys provided from the Indian revenue; and (3) whether the appropriateness of conserving in India the Crown made for His Majesty the King on the occasion of the Durbar was discussed by His Majesty's Government; what were the views on the subject of His Majesty's representatives in India; and will he publish them, in view of the interest in that country in the ultimate fate of this crown jewel?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)After full consideration and consultation with the Government of India, it has been decided by the Secretary of State in Council that the Imperial Crown worn by His Majesty at Delhi shall be kept in this country, and His Majesty has been pleased to direct that it shall be exhibited with the Regalia in the Tower of London. I may add that one of the most important considerations which led to this decision was the constitutional objection to taking any course which might be construed to provide separate Regalia for India, and to derogate from the acceptance of the fact that the King of Great Britain and Ireland is crowned Emperor of India when he is crowned in Westminster Abbey.