§ 4. Mr. SAKLATVALAasked the Under-Secretary of State for India to what extent the sovereign States of India of the importance of Hyderabad, Mysore, Kashmir, and Bhopal have freedom in their internal affairs, such as the appointment of their Ministers, including the Chief Minister, and the succession to their thrones in consonance with the traditions and religion of the peoples concerned; and, if there is any interference in such internal affairs by the Government of India, under what authority is it taken?
§ Earl WINTERTONI cannot within the limits of a reply to a question go into details, but, generally speaking, the rulers of States such as those mentioned enjoy full liberty in the appointment of Ministers and in other matters of purely internal administration, subject always to the right of the British Government to intervene for special reasons, such as the prevention of gross misrule. Successions require the recognition of the British Government, but where there is a natural heir in the direct line are a matter of course. The British Government intervenes authoritatively in all cases of disputed succession. The right to intervene is inherent in the position of the British Government as paramount Power.