HC Deb 10 March 1920 vol 126 cc1249-50
14. Lieut.-Colonel JAMES

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Indian caliphate or Islamic delegation at present visiting this country is led by a certain Mohammed Ali; whether this Mohammed Ali is the same individual who, on account of his revolutionary tendencies and his intimate association with the Committee of Union and Progress, was interned on his own responsibility by His Highness the Nawab of Rampur and who was subsequently interned by the Indian Government, together with his brother Shaukat Ali, who had earned a similar reputation at the university of Alighur; whether the inclusion of a man of such revolutionary tendencies on this Islamic delegation is approved by the Government of India; and whether he will consider the possible prejudice to the cause of the millions of loyal Islamic subjects of the Crown of the inclusion of an avowed revolutionary on a mission of this kind?

Mr. FISHER

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part the loader of the delegation is the same individual who was interned by the Government of India. With regard to the third and fourth parts of the question, the Government of India had no hand in selecting the personnel of the delegation. I can accept no responsibility on this point.

Lieut.-Colonel JAMES

Is it a fact that members of the delegation have been officially received by representatives of the Indian Government in this country; does not such reception constitute an act of approval of the constitution of the delegation; and is it a fact that the Government of India, quite properly, had no hand in selecting the personnel of the delegation?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. and gallant Member should hand in his question at the Table.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a visit of a committee of this kind is of the utmost advantage to the relations between ourselves and the Mahomedans in India; and is he also aware that it can only be of advantage to this Empire for men like Mohammed Ali to come here?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. and gallant Gentleman must follow the example of the hon. and gallant Member and hand in his question.

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