§ 2. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government have ever had before them for consideration the duly sworn affidavit of Lallapiteyage Sopia Hamy, of Algoda, Ceylon, that on the morning of the 18th June, 1915, some English officers and a number of Punjabi soldiers came to her house and, without asking any question whatever, searched the house, broke open a big box, took away 100 rupees and jewellery worth Rs. 300, took her husband, James Bass, 133 in a boat across the river, and shot him and two other men within her view on the opposite bank, and that she afterwards went across with help and buried her husband's corpse; and whether Sir Robert Chalmers, then Governor of Ceylon, has reported the effect of such incidents on the loyalty and affection of the Sinhalese people?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE ton the COLONIES (Mr. Steel-Maitland)I have read what purports to be a transcript of the affidavit in question, but I have no reason to believe that it accurately represents the facts.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the hon. Gentleman say how many of these affidavits are in circulation, and what action has been taken with reference to the deponents?
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDPerhaps the lion. Gentleman will put down a question.