§ 8. Sir C. YATEasked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the statement in the "Leader" newspaper, of Allahabad, that the Gwalior State has prohibited the sale and distribution within the territory of His Highness the Maharaja of the following newspapers: the "Kesari," "Amrita Bayar Patrika," "Mahratta," "Bombay Chronicle," "Independent," "Pratap," "Rajasthan," and "Sahasa," and, considering that these papers are published in British India, will he state what action has been taken by the Government of India against these newspapers in support of the loyal action of His Highness the Maharaja; whether the Government of India has accepted the 1062 resolution of the Legislative Assembly to appoint a committee to examine the Indian Press Act of 1910, and to recommend modifications of the existing law in regard to liberty of speech and writing; and, if so, will the Press Act Committee consider the views of Indian princes in the matter of granting further freedom to the Press in India?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI have seen a reference in the Indian newspapers to the Gwalior Prohibition. The Governments in British India have not, to my knowledge, taken any steps recently against the papers named. The Committee appointed to consider the Press laws has finished its sittings, and is on the point of presenting its report. The Committee took into consideration the connection between the Press laws and the native States.