§ 8. Mr. THURTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India, if the Government is taking any steps to ascertain the condition of government in the Native States of India before committing this country to any fresh obligations regarding the future of these states?
§ Earl WINTERTONInformation on this subject is obtained in the ordinary course, through Political Officers.
§ Mr. THURTLEDoes the Noble Lord think that the present means of obtaining information are sufficient Is he aware that citizens of these Native States have not any means of getting their grievances before the responsible authorities?
§ Earl WINTERTONThat really deals with an entirely different matter. As the hon. Gentleman's colleague, the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil (Mr. Wallhead), is not present to ask his question—I am not complaining of it, but only referring to it—I have not had the opportunity of explaining what is the exact position of these States vis-a-vis the Indian Government. I do not think that the particular point which the hon. Gentleman asks arises out of this case.
§ Mr. CRAWFURDIs it not a fact that the position is largely one regulated by Treaty in this case?
§ Earl WINTERTONI think the hon. Gentleman is aware that I always endeavour to give all the information there is in answer to questions, but I rather deprecate attempting to answer questions on matters of high constitutional importance in reply to a supplementary question. The answer which I had prepared in reply 1355 to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil's question which was not asked deals with the matter.
§ 5. Mr. RENNIE SMITH (for Mr. WALLHEAD)asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of Indian States in which representative institutions for the enactment of laws exist; in which liberty of person and freedom of speech, meeting, and association exist; and the number in which there is a fixed civil list, subject to independent audit, for the rulers and their families?
§ Earl WINTERTONIn the absence of fuller information than is available here, I regret that I cannot give the figures for which the hon. Member asks.
§ 6. Mr. RENNIE SMITH (for Mr. WALLHEAD)asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will inform the House of the nature of the responsibility of the Paramount Power for the good government of the Indian States and the conditions of intervention by the Paramount Power in the internal administration of the States; and whether machinery exists in any of the States whereby the grievances of the peoples of a State may be made known by them to the Paramount Power or whereby, in case of necessity, they may invoke intervention to obtain the redress of such grievances?
§ Earl WINTERTONAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the explanation of the rights and duties of the Paramount Power given in the letter from the Viceroy to His Exalted Highness the Nizam of Hyderabad of the 27th March, 1926, of which a copy was included in the papers presented to Parliament at the time (Command Paper No. 2621 of 1926). As regards the second part, the Political Officers appointed to the various States or groups of States are responsible for keeping the Paramount Power supplied with whatever local information is necessary for the proper discharge of its functions.
§ Mr. THURTLEAre we to understand from that answer that a citizen of one of these States has the right to approach the Political Officer with a grievance which he may have against the Ruler of that State?
§ Earl WINTERTONIt is really impossible, within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question, to explain exactly what the position is. It is a matter of the highest importance, as it affects the relations of the Crown with these States. If the hon. Gentleman wants information on a specific point, he must put a question down. If he will read this letter from the late Viceroy to which I have referred, he will find the case stated there.