§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Undersecretary of State for India (1) whether he is aware that Sir George Rooskeppel, Chief Commissioner, N. F. W. province, is interesting himself in collecting funds for the establishment of an Islamia College at Peshawar; whether his subordinate officers are soliciting subscriptions personally and by letter and approached, amongst others, Khan Bahadur Khawaja Muhammad, Khan of Hoti, by means of a letter offering to remove a certain cloud which was alleged to be hanging over the Khan, and also to procure honour for him on condition that he contributed; whether this is in contravention of the desire of Lord Hardinge, the Viceroy, that no Government servant should join any movement for collecting subscriptions for universities and colleges; what action the Secretary of State for India intends taking in the matter; (2) whether Khan Bahadur Khawaja Muhammad, Khan of Hoti, is the same person who received high commendations from various British officers for services rendered during the Indian Mutiny and on many occasions since; whether he is aware that in 1896 the Viceroy of India, Lord 204 Elgin, conferred the title of Khan Bahadur upon him as a personal distinction; and that he received the special thanks in 1887 of the Viceroy and the late Queen Victoria for services rendered in connection with the Chitral Relief Expedition; whether he can explain the circumstances under which he was arrested on the day following his return from the Coronation Durbar at Delhi on a warrant issued by the local police, who lodged him in gaol and refused him bail, although he is known to be very wealthy; whether the High Court of Judicature at Bombay subsequently stated that the Khan had been arrested without complaint having been made against him, and taken to Bombay to answer a charge when there was no charge against him; whether he will cause full and impartial investigation to be made into all the facts and circumstances of the case; and; (3) whether he is aware that the Khan Bahadur Khawaja Muhammad, Khan of Hoti, during his imprisonment in Peshawar Gaol on what was subsequently-shown to be a false charge, handed his agent four telegrams, addressed respectively to His Majesty the King, Lord Hardinge, the Viceroy, Lord Crewe, the Secretary of State for India, and the Foreign Secretary of the Government of India, and that these telegrams were suppressed by the Post Office officials at Peshawar and, instead of being forwarded to their destination, were handed over to the local authorities; and what action has been taken to punish those guilty of this breach of the Post Office regulations?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe three questions on this subject asked by the hon. Member raise a number of points of detail on which I have as yet no information. I recognise the importance of the case, and the Government of India are inquiring, and have promised a full Report. I shall be glad to give full information as soon as it is received.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEWhen may we expect it?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI will let the hon. Member know as soon as I receive it.