Mr. LLOYD GEORGE(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Statutory Commission on Indian Government was consulted with reference to the passage in the important statement made by the Viceroy of India yesterday which relates to the constitutional status of India in the Empire; if so,0 whether the Commission concurred; and whether that passage is intended to indicate any change, either in substance or in point of time, in the policy announced by previous Governments.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Wedgwood Benn)The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. It is due to the Statutory Commission that I should make it perfectly clear that they were not consulted. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise. As to the third part, the passage referred to is intended to set out the goal of British policy as stated in the Declaration of August, 1917. In view of the doubts which have been expressed both in Great Britain and India regarding the interpretation to be placed on the intentions of the British Government in enacting the Statute of 1919 the Viceroy was authorised, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, to state clearly that, in their judgment, it is implicit in the Declaration of 1917 that the natural issue of India's constitutional progress, as there contemplated, is the attainment of Dominion status. Questions of policy involving changes either in substance or in time cannot be considered until the Commission and the Indian Central Committee have submitted their Reports and His Majesty's Government have been able, in 474 consultation with the Government of India, to consider these matters in the light of all the material then available, and after the meeting of the Conference which it is intended to summon.
Mr. LLOYD GEORGEDo I gather from the right hon. Gentleman's statement that there is no change, either in substance or in time, in the policy which has been indicated by previous Ministries and Viceroys; and may I also ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Indian leaders which makes it clear that in their view this declaration means a fundamental change in the procedure, and that a conference is to be summoned practically to prepare a Bill for submission to Parliament for setting up Dominion status in India?
§ Mr. BENNThe right hon. Gentleman has given me a full morning's work in preparing an answer to his question which I only received late last night. I am sorry to say that I have not had time to look at the newspapers this morning. In reply to the first question, I have already given a carefully considered answer, and to that reply I have nothing to add.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWith regard to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question as to the non-consultation of our colleagues on the Commission, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he consulted with any other Members or right hon. Members of this House, other than Members of the Government?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the Secretary of State for India aware that statements are being made that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bewdley (Mr. S. Baldwin) was consulted, and am I not entitled to ask my right hon. Friend whether, seeing that he did not find it possible to consult the Com mission, he did in fact consult the right hon. Gentleman opposite?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman must realise that the Government are not responsible for any statements made in the newspapers.
§ Commander OLIVER LOCKER-LAMPSONHave there, or have there not, been any threatened resignations from the Simon Commission?
§ Mr. BENNIt is quite clear that I am not in a position to answer any questions on behalf of the Simon Commission.
§ Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONWhat right have you to short circuit the Simon Commission?
§ Mr. BROCKWAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the new hope in a settlement of the Indian problem arising from the statement which has now been made, and is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to accompany that hopeful declaration by some general amnesty to political offenders?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat raises another question.
§ Mr. STANLEY BALDWINI rise for a moment to ask the indulgence of the House to make an observation with regard to an article which has been brought to my notice as having appeared in to-day's issue of the "Daily Mail." It is sufficient for me at the moment to say that every statement of fact and every implication of fact contained in that article is untrue, and in my opinion gravely injurious to the public interest, not only in this country, but throughout the Empire. I shall have occasion, I hope, at any early date, to examine and make clear the whole position.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I say that I had no knowledge that the right hon. Gentleman was going to make that statement, and naturally, if I had known, I should not have put my Supplementary Question in the form in which I did to my right hon. Friend.