§ 2. Colonel YATEasked whether Mohammed Ali, who is reported to have been interned in India for correspondence with the enemy during the War, has arrived in England, and, if so, has he been received at the India Office?
§ Mr. FISHERAs I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Bromley on the 10th March, Mohammed Ali has arrived in England as a member of the Indian Khalifat Deputation. The Deputation has been received by myself on behalf of the Secretary of State for India.
§ Colonel YATEWas it not the case in 1913 that Lord Crewe, when Sccretary of State, refused to receive this same man, and may I ask the right hon. Gentleman why he did not adopt the same procedure?
§ Mr. FISHERMohammed Ali had been already received by the Viceroy of India, and in those circumstances I thought it right to receive him here.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs he not going to be received by the Prime Minister tomorrow?
§ Mr. FISHERYes.
§ Colonel YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman represent to the Prime Minister that this man, who has been interned for communicating with the enemy, is not a man who should be received.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not a fact that there is no truth at all in the statement that he communicated with the enemy, and is he not an ordinary agitator, who has had no dealings with Germany at all? Is that not true?
§ Mr. FISHERI think it is true that Mohammed Ali had no dealings with Germany.
§ Colonel YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman answer my question—whether he will represent to the Prime Minister the precedents and the conduct of this man, and that he is not a right man to be received?
§ Mr. FISHERI think the Prime Minister is perfectly well aware of the career of Mohammed Ali.