§ Mr. THURTLE (by Private Notice)asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can give the House any information regarding the wholesale arrests reported to have taken place in Bombay, Calcutta, Poona, and other Indian cities yesterday?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)Under the authority of the Governor-General in Council a complaint was laid against 31 persons from various parts of India, all of whom are alleged to be Communists, on a charge under Section 121A of the Indian Penal Code, of conspiracy to deprive the King of the sovereignty of British India. Warrants for the arrest 1861 of these persons in this charge were issued by the District Magistrate, Meerut, and were, I understand, executed yesterday.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill these arrested persons be brought to trial without delay; and was this action taken at the instigation of the home Government or not?
§ Earl WINTERTONIn regard to the first question, they will be brought to trial under the ordinary process of law at the first opportunity. I am certainly not prepared to answer the second question, as it seems to me to be a wholly improper one in the circumstances.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONHas the secretary of the Jute Workers' Union in India been arrested, and, if so, have the Jute Workers' books and papers also been taken?
§ Earl WINTERTONI am afraid I could not give information as regards specific cases. If the hon. Member puts down a question for Monday, I will endeavour to obtain the information.
§ Mr. THURTLEWas the home Government privy to these intending arrests?
§ Earl WINTERTONYes; I am certainly prepared to say the action was taken with the full assent of my Noble Friend.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAThe Noble Lord said that these men were all alleged to be Communists. What is the significance of that? Does it mean that they were members of the Communist party, or not, and, if so, how many were members? Also, were they arrested simply because they were members of the Communist party?
§ Earl WINTERTONNo; I said in my answer that they are arrested because they are charged by the appropriate authorities with conspiracy to deprive the King of the sovereignty of British India. The meaning of the term "alleged to be Communists" is that they are believed to be members of the Communist party.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAIf certain persons are arrested for having committed, or being alleged to have committed, a certain act, what was the relevance in the Noble Lord stating that they are alleged 1862 to be members of the Conservative or the Communist party? What is the motive of mentioning it?
§ Earl WINTERTONI wished to give the fullest information in my power. I gave the information that reached my Noble Friend from the Government of India. If the hon. Member asks for information, it is my duty to give it as fully as I can.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAThat is exactly my complaint, that the information is not full, and it is only a mischievous insinuation. How many are members of the Communist party, and why is that necessary to be mentioned as having any relevancy to the subject?
§ Earl WINTERTONI do not wish to say anything the hon. Member regards as offensive to his party. If he will put down a question for Monday, I will ascertain, if it is possible, how many of these 31 alleged Communists are enrolled members of the Communist party.
§ Mr. WELLOCKDoes not the Noble Lord think the methods that have been adopted will tend to cause a reversion to the methods formerly in operation?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is not a proper question to ask.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the trial be public and open and according to ordinary procedure, or will it be under special ordinance?
§ Earl WINTERTONI can assure the hon. Member and the House that it will be under the ordinary procedure of the law, and it will be open to the public.