§ 2. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India are making any representations to the Colonial Office respecting the Hilton Young Report; and, in particular, whether they are supporting the right of Indians to a place on a common roll of electors, both for municipal and general purposes?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe Report is engaging the attention of the Government of India, but they have not yet made any representations concerning it. His Majesty's Government have promised that before any decision is taken, they will give the fullest consideration to the views of the Government of India.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the Noble Lord remember the attitude which he took up in 1923 when the question of communal rights and communal rural electors was raised, and will he now support the same point of view?
§ Earl WINTERTONI cannot quite catch what the right hon. and gallant Member says.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODThe Noble Lord will remember the agreement that was arrived at in 1923. Does he maintain the attitude which he took up then, and will he now seek to have the settlement come to in that agreement embodied in the decision which is come to in regard to Kenya?
§ Earl WINTERTONI am afraid that the right hon. and gallant Member has 1373 attributed to me an importance which I did not possess. In the negotiations to which he refers, I was acting under instructions of the then Secretary of State for India. I do not see that the negotiations which then took place and the decision which was then reached have anything to do with the present matter.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask whether the present Secretary of State for India holds the same views that his predecessor held in 1923 on this question?
§ Earl WINTERTONPerhaps the right hon. and gallant Member will put down a specific question. It does not arise out of the question upon the Paper.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAApart from the views that the Noble Lord may hold, is it not the ordinary duty of the Secretary of State for India to protect the rights of Indian subjects, when the Indian subjects complain of their rights being trampled upon?
§ Earl WINTERTONI think the hon. Member has not heard the answer which I gave. I said that His Majesty's Government have promised that before any decision is come to, they will give the fullest consideration to the views of the Government of India.
§ 14. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in regard to the appointment of an officer of the Indian Civil Service to a seat on the Executive Council of Kenya, it is the intention to nominate an Indian?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have been asked to reply. It has not yet been decided who is to be nominated.
§ Mr. WELLOCKConsideration will be given, I presume, to this suggestion?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe matter is in the hands of the Viceroy. If he should chance to see the hon. Gentleman's question, no doubt he will give it consideration.