§ 50. Commander WEDGWOODasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that charges have been made by the Home Secretary against an hon. Member of this House of supporting a publication which advocates assassination as a political weapon in India; whether he is aware that the charge is unsupported by any evidence but is made to discredit the Indian home-rule movement in the interest of the Anglo-Indian irreconcilables, contrary to the wishes of the India Office, by a Home Secretary insufficiently acquainted with the gravity of Indian politics; and whether ho will allot time to have this charge against the honour of a Member of this House discussed?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI cannot agree with the suggestions contained in this question, nor do I think it necessary to give a special opportunity for the discussion of the subject
§ Commander WEDGWOODAm I to understand that a charge of such gravity can be made against a Member of this House by the Home Secretary without any further proceedings being taken and without any opportunity being given of showing that it was without a shadow of foundation?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have read the question and the answer, and I have not drawn that inference from it. After the answer which I have given, perhaps the hon. Member would address his question to the Home Secretary?
§ Commander WEDGWOODI beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment to-morrow.
75, 76, 77, 135, and 136. Commander WEDGWOOD asked the Home Secretary (1) if he will state on what date the Home Office or police intimated to the India Office their desire to have the office of the India Home Rule League raided; whether the India Office concurred verbally or in writing; in view of his accusation against a Member of this House, will he lay Papers showing the responsibility of both the India Office and the police for the raid and for the assassin charge;(2) whether he will indicate the passages in the book "Young India," by Lajpat Rai, with an introduction by the hon. Member for Newcastle, which he holds to advocate assassination; whether he read these passages before making the charge or whether he was merely stating the opinion of Sir Archibald Bodkin;(3) whether the idea of the raid on the Indian Home Rule League originated with the Home Office, the police, or the India Office; (4) whether the India Office recommended the Home Office or the police to raid the offices of the Home Rule for India League; whether he was cognisant and approving of the raid before it took place; (5) whether he will indicate the passages in the book "Young India," by Lajpat Rai, and having an introduction written by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme, which recommends assassination?
§ Sir G. CAVEOn the .1st October the India Office notified my Department that the British branch of the Home Rule for 1350 India League were publishing a, reprint of a book called " Young India," by one Lajpat Rai. The India Office pointed out that this book had been prohibited in India, and that its importation in this country had also been prohibited, and expressed the view that its circulation was undesirable. I personally examined the book, and came to the conclusion that it contravened the Regulations under the Defence of the Realm Act and contained passages sympathising with extreme revolutionary methods (including the use of the bomb and the revolver) and condoning crimes of assassination which had been committed in India. I will give the hon. and gallant Member a note of some of the passages upon which my opinion was formed. The decision to have the premises searched and the book seized was thereupon taken with the concurrence of the India Office. I may add that there is (as I am informed) cause to suspect that the author is subsidised by German agents in the United States of America, and it is certain that he uses language regarding British rule in India which is indistinguishable from that found in enemy propaganda.
The hon. and gallant Member will perhaps allow me to add that I have never suggested or for a moment believed that he would give his countenance to a publication which he knew to be of the character which I have described, and I am confident that when he expressed his approval of the book in question he had not realised the nature and tendency of some of the passages contained in the book.
§ Commander WEDGWOODMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman read the book or whether it was read by Sir Archibald Bodkin?
§ Sir G. CAVEI read the book from cover to cover.
§ Commander WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that 1,000 copies of the book were printed, and that they were sent to the Members of this House and to Members of the House of Lords?
§ Sir G. CAVEI am aware that the edition published in this country was a small one-1,000 was given to me as the number-but you could not pass over even this small edition without it being said you could not suppress the rest.
§ Commander WEDGWOODIs it worth while, in order to show the powers of the Home Office under the Defence of the Realm Act, to antagonise all these people in India who are pressing for home rule, and at a time when the Secretary of State for India is about there for this country?
§ Sir H. CRAIKIs it not the fact that Lajpat Rai was himself about ten years ago dealt with for seditious conduct in this country?
§ Sir G. CAVEYes.
§ Commander WEDGWOODIs he not at the present moment free in India?
§ Sir G. CAVEI believe not.
Mr. CHANCELLORAre any steps to be taken against the publisher, so that he may bring the matter before a Court-is he to be prosecuted?
§ Sir G. CAVEThat is not in my province.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEWere those steps taken in order to make the world free for democracy?
§ Commander WEDGWOODIf you read the book, you would not talk rot like that.