21. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, under the banishment enact- 1750 ments of the Federated Malay States, a number of persons are undergoing imprisonment for indefinite periods who have never had any legal trial, but have returned to the Malay States after banishment?
Mr. HARCOURTUnder the Federated Malay States Banishment Enactment any person who has been lawfully banished from the colony of the Straits Settlements or from any Malay State is prohibited from entering the Federated Malay States so long as the term for which he was banished has not expired, and any person so returning may be prosecuted before the court, and if convicted, sentenced to imprisonment for a term equal to that for which he was banished. I may add that the working of the banishment system has had very careful attention, and that I am in communication with the High Commissioner for the Malay States on the subject at the present time.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether any of these persons who have been banished, have been banished because they were suspected of inculcating the principles of trade unionism among the natives?