HC Deb 27 July 1925 vol 187 cc11-2
20. Mr. SAKLATVALA

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the South African Minister of the Interior has introduced in the House of Assembly at Cape Town a Bill aiming at a very considerable reduction in the Indian population there, not by forcible means but by application of pressure; has His Majesty's Government here ascertained how application of pressure will be accepted as being different from force by His Majesty's Indian subjects in Africa; and how does the Government propose to ascertain and protect the opinions and rights of the British-Indian population in South Africa?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

I have seen the reports of the Minister's speech which appeared a few days ago in the Press, but I have no further information on the subject, and I am not in a position to make any statement. The hon. Member will, however, have seen from the reports of the speech that the Indian Government is at present in communication with the Government of the Union of South Africa regarding the position of Indians in South Africa.

Mr. SAKLATVALA

Will the hon. Gentleman assure us he will make the necessary investigation and obtain confirmation or otherwise of the report?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

I rather think we are supplied with the South African "Hansard" but it is not customary, in dealing with a self-governing Dominion, to ask for a special report of a particular speech by a Minister responsible to the Parliament of that Dominion.