§ 75. Brigadier-General CHARTERISasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his investigations into the alleged assault on a native at Spencer's Hotel, Madras, are completed; and whether any further information is now available?
§ Earl WINTERTONNo, Sir, not yet.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I call your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the description "a native" which appears on the Order Paper, and may I ask you whether it is in order to describe one of our fellow-subjects in India, as "a native"? [interruption.] Is it not a fact that in India there is a strict official order that no Indian subject should be described as "a native," and may I ask why he should be so insulted in this House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI was not aware that any objection could be taken to this description, but, if the hon. Member wishes to submit any point to me, I will certainly look into it, as it is most desirable that the Question Paper should not be used in any way to give offence to anybody.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI submit to you—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI cannot deal with the point at this moment, but, if the hon. Member will submit to me what he has put in his question, I will certainly look into it.
§ Brigadier-General CHARTERISDoes the information so far available tend to show that the statement made by the right hon. Gentleman the. Member for Preston (Mr. T. Shaw) was correct or incorrect?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe information which has reached me unofficially, and upon which I prefer not to comment until it has been verified by the Government of India, if verification is, indeed, possible at such length of time, tends entirely to contradict the statement.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs it not a fact that there is an official order in India that Indians are not to be described as natives in any official document?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not know whether the Noble Lord could answer that supplementary question, for my information?
§ Earl WINTERTONI was about to say, when the hon. and gallant Member for South Cardiff (Captain A. Evans) rose to ask a question, that to the best of my belief it is a fact that there is an official order that no civil servant or servant of the Crown in India should refer to an inhabitant of that country as "a native."
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf that be the case, I am sure that all hon. Members will be glad to follow what has been established officially in India.
§ Brigadier-General CHARTERISMay I ask whether that decision only applies to servants of the Crown, and whether the person on whom this assault was alleged to have been made was not an actual servant of the Crown, and would, therefore, customarily be called a native?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe House will be well advised to leave the matter in my hands. I will look into it and will see that the proper course is followed.
§ Brigadier-General CHARTERISMay I say I intended no reflection? One calls oneself with pride a native of Scotland, and Indians should and do feel an equal pride in calling themselves natives of India.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think we had better not pursue the matter. I have asked the House to leave it in my hands.
Captain EVANSOn a point of Order. May I have permission to ask a supplementary question in regard to the original question on the Order Paper?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe have passed that point.