HC Deb 28 March 1917 vol 92 cc392-3
2. Sir J. D. REES

asked the Secretary of State for India whether documents found by General Smuts at Moshi included a copy of a circular signed by the Governor of German East Africa, and dispatched to all military stations in that territory, in which circular officers of the Government of German East Africa were asked to consider whether the religion of Islam could be altogether prohibited, and intimating that the encouragement of pig breeding among the natives was recommended by experts as an effective means of stopping the spread of Mahomedanism; and, if so, whether any steps have been, or can be, taken to make known in India, and in Mahomedan countries under British rule, the attitude of German administration in this behalf?

Dr. MACNAMARA

A circular signed by the Government of German East Africa was found at Moshi, in which inquiry was made whether the propagation of the Moslem religion by Government officials, and especially by schoolmasters, could not be prohibited, and in which it was stated that the encouragement of pig breeding among the natives was recommended by experts as an effective means of checking the spread of that religion. Steps were promptly taken by His Majesty's Government to make widely known to Moslems this illustration of the real attitude of the German Government towards them.

Sir J. D. REES

Did those steps include the publication of this fact in the Indian Press?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I will put that to the Secretary of State.