§ 24. Mr. MORRELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can ascertain the date upon which Mr. Buchanan gave orders to an inspector of police to remove the little girl Ainah from the house of Captain McCormick and restore her to her mother; the date of the warrant issued by Mr. Buchanan for the arrest of Captain McCormick on a charge of rape; the date upon which Mr. Buchanan was transferred from Victoria Point to another district; the date upon which he was passed over for promotion by an officer junior to himself; and whether the Secretary of State has satisfied himself that the conduct of Mr. Buchanan in bringing to light the McCormick case has had no bearing whatever upon his transfer and failure to get promotion?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIn June, 1911, the Commissioner of the division recommended that Mr. Buchanan should be replaced at Victoria Point by an officer of higher status. On the 3rd July Mr. Buchanan first reported the existence of the kidnapping allegations against Captain McCormick. On the 12th July he handed the case to the police, who brought the child away on the 14th. On the 19th July Mr. Buchanan issued a warrant for the arrest of Captain McCormick. Mr. Buchanan was transferred from Victoria Point on the 16th October, 1911, and it was on the 29th May, 1913, that his junior was promoted in the circumstances that I have already explained. The Secretary of State has satisfied himself that the transfer and the passing over were decided quite independently of Mr. Buchanan's action in bringing the McCormick case to light.
§ 25. Mr. MORRELLasked how long Mr. A. W. Buchanan has been a member of the provincial Civil Service; and whether there has been any occasion before this year upon which he has been superseded for promotion by an officer junior to himself?
§ Mr. MONTAGUMr. Buchanan has been a member of the Burma Provincial Service for twenty years. I am not aware whether he had ever been passed over for promotion before this year.