§ 58. Earl WINTERTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will publish as a White Paper an account of the proceedings and finding in the Cawnpore conspiracy case?
§ Mr. RICHARDSThe Government of India have recently reported that a complete record of the case is being printed for the hearing of the appeal which is expected to be filed in the High Court, and that copies will be forwarded as soon as possible. I can therefore only refer to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley on the 23rd June.
§ Earl WINTERTONDo I understand from the reply that the hon. Gentleman has definitely decided not to publish these papers, if and when they are received?
§ Mr. RICHARDSNo; the reply I gave was that it was a matter within the discretion of the Secretary of State.
§ Earl WINTERTONSome hon. Gentlemen opposite feel, like myself, that we ought to have this information which is of great importance. Why, in view of the fact that the hon. Gentleman has been pressed by hon. Members, cannot he now undertake to publish it as soon as it is received from the Government of India? What reason is there against that?
§ Mr. RICHARDSThe reason is that the Secretary of State has probably not yet received it himself.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIf it has been published in India, what reason is there for not publishing it here?