§ 62 Commander WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for India (1) whether he will approach the Indian Government with a view to getting the great engineering resources of India put entirely at the disposal of Government for the production of shell, high explosive, aeroplanes, armour-plate, rails, and boilerplate; (2) whether the Government of India has been asked to put the engineering resources of that country at the disposal of Government for the production of guns and ammunition; and, if not, will he state the reason; and (3) whether he has offered the Minister of Munitions to further the erection of Government shell and gun factories in India; and, if not, why this course has not been taken?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have been in close touch with the Ministry of Munitions on this subject, and the Government of 199 India is already giving all the assistance in its power in the provision of military supplies of all kinds.
§ Commander WEDGWOODIs it not a fact that they have not mobilised the industrial resources of India as they have in this country, and is it not about time that they did so in view of cheap labour?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI think my answer is correct, and it is a full answer to my hon. Friend's question. It is that "the Government of India is already giving all the assistance in its power in the provision of military supplies of all kinds."
§ Mr. R. GWYNNEWill the right hon. Gentleman say when this assistance began?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINAt the very beginning of the War when India gave large supplies to this country which were urgently needed and which this country could not provide.
§ Mr. GWYNNEIs the right hon. Gentleman referring to the Government of India or to the Indian Princes?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not unmindful of what has been done by the princes and peoples of India by private contributions, but I am referring to the contributions made by the Government of India.
§ Mr. GWYNNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the discussion that took place in the Legislative Assembly?