HC Deb 23 July 1919 vol 118 cc1329-30
11. Colonel YATE

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, considering that Sir James Meston has been deputed by the Viceroy to explain the views of the Government of India to the Joint Select Committee on the Government of India Bill in favour of the proposed scheme for diarchy, it is the intention of the Viceroy to depute representatives of the provincial Governors to explain their views in favour of the alternative scheme propounded by those Governors in their minute of the l5th January, 1919; and, in the event of the Government of India not giving effect to their undertaking to give all facilities possible to accredited representatives of all shades of opinion to visit this country to give evidence before the Committee, he will state what steps he proposes to take to carry out his own undertaking that care would be taken that the views of the Governors of the provinces in India are represented before the Committee?

Mr. MONTAGU

I have already told my hon. and gallant Friend that it rests wholly with the Select Committee to decide what evidence they require, but that I shall be happy to submit for their consideration the names of any witnesses suggested to me by my hon. and gallant Friend. Heads of provinces have committed their views to writing, and will be represented on the Committee by their constitutional Parliamentary spokesman, the Secretary of State.

Colonel YATE

Does that mean that the Government of India have deliberately refused to permit the Governors of provinces in India to make their representations before the Select Committee?

Mr. MONTAGU

It means nothing of the kind, and I am not aware that any suggestion of the kind has been made to the Government of India.

Captain ORMSBY-GORE

Is it not a fact that Sir Michael O'Dwyer, who is one of the five heads of provinces referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend who signed the Report of the five dissentient provinces, is now in this county and is available to give evidence?

Mr. MONTAGU

There are several ex-heads of provinces in this country at the present moment—Sir Michael O'Dwyer, Lord Pentland, Lord Carmichael, Sir Archdale Earle, and many others—but 1 think my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to men who are now heads of provinces.

Colonel YATE

May I ask if theèlate Lieut.-Governor of the United Provinces will be allowed to give evidence?

Mr. MONTAGU

I have no knowledge that he has ever suggested that or that the Select Committee would wish him to. His views are on record, and he signed the same scheme which has been presented by the Lieut.-Governors.

Colonel YATE

Does that mean that Sir Michael O'Dwyer will be the only one representative of the scheme presented by the provincial Governors?

Mr. MONTAGU

As I have said, if my hon. and gallant Friend wishes to suggest anybody else, I will charge myself to bring it before my colleagues on the Committee on his behalf.

Colonel YATE

I have to thank the right hon. Gentleman. It is not I who wish to give evidence, but the Governors of the provinces in India. There are eight provinces, and will a representative of each be allowed to give evidence?

Mr. MONTAGU

I can hardly believe that the Lieut.-Governor of the United Provinces will have communicated his wishes to my hon. and gallant Friend in preference to the Government of India or myself, and I have had no suggestion to that effect.

Colonel YATE

I have had no suggestion to that effect either, but Sir John Hewett is now in this country, and I ask—

Mr. SPEAKER

Order, order!