§ 59. Commander WEDGWOODasked whether the office of the Home Rule for India League, in Robert Street, W.C., has been raided; whether the aims or methods of this league are considered or suspected of being seditious or illegal; and whether legal proceedings are contemplated?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe office of this league was searched by the police on the 3rd November for copies of a book containing statements which encouraged sedition and 1014 assassination. The papers seized are under examination, and I am not at present prepared to express any opinion upon the aims or methods of the league, or whether criminal proceedings are likely to be taken.
§ Commander WEDGWOODWas not the book seized the book to which I wrote a preface?
§ Sir G. CAVEYes; I think that the hon. and gallant Gentleman did make himself responsible for it.
§ Commander WEDGWOODAm I to be prosecuted as well as anybody else? It is a travesty to say that any such suggestion was made in that volume. Was this search undertaken after consultation with the India Office or not, or is it held to be in support of decent relations between AngloIndians and Indians in India?
§ Sir G. CAVEIt was taken after consultation.
§ Mr. KINGAs it has taken over a fortnight to decide whether the hon and gallant Member's references are seditious, will the right hon. Gentleman say when he will come to a decision?
§ Sir G. CAVEI do not say that the writings of the hon. and gallant Gentleman himself are seditious, but the book in itself encourages sedition.
§ Commander WEDGWOODIt certainly does not.