§ 72. Commander WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of Madras have prohibited Mrs. Annie Besant from publishing or speaking; whether an internment order has been served on her; whether these orders were made with his knowledge and sanction; and, having in view Mrs. Besant's attitude towards the War, if he will explain why such orders were made?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe Madras Government have prohibited Mrs. Annie Besant from publishing and from speaking in public, and have required her to take up her residence and reside within any one of six specified areas. As regards the rest of the answer, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on the 21st to the question of the hon. Member for the Elgin Burghs.
§ Commander WEDGWOODMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether this internment of Mrs. Besant was referred to him and had his approval before it was promulgated?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir; the Madras Government took action on their own responsibility and within the powers and duties which are conferred upon them. It was not referred to me, but I approve of their action.
§ Commander WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is action such as this which tends to strengthen the Home Rule movement in India?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir; Mrs. Besant has been engaged in a dangerous 199 political agitation which might become highly dangerous and even disastrous to India. Her operations have come under the notice of more than one Government, and I cannot for one moment indicate any doubt as to the wisdom of the course which the Government of Madras have taken in this case.
§ Mr. SNOWDENAre we to understand from that reply that it is a dangerous thing to advocate an extension of self-government for India by constitutional means?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThat is not what I said, and there is no colour for it in the answer which I gave.
§ Mr. SNOWDENWhat other offence has Mrs. Besant committed than to advocate Home Rule for India by perfectly constitutional methods, and is it not a fact that she has throughout the whole propaganda deprecated anything in the nature of sedition or illegal action?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINShe has taken part in an agitation and has pursued that agitation by means which in the opinion of the authorities in India, and in my opinion, are dangerous to the peace in British India.
§ Commander WEDGWOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman imagine that you can suppress an agitation for freedom in this way?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have no desire to suppress any movement for freedom.
§ Mr. SPEAKERCommander Wedgwood.