§ 4. Mr. REMERasked the Secretary of State for India if he will publish the evidence given before the Commission inquiring into the riots at Cawnpore?
§ Mr. BENNI have nothing to add to the answers given on Wednesday last to the hon. and gallant Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox).
§ Mr. REMERMay I ask whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman has been called to the evidence published in the "Saturday Review "?
§ Mr. BENNMy attention has been called to a great mass of Press cuttings. It is superfluous to call my attention to it, because the inquiry itself proceeded in public.
§ Mr. REMERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a verbatim report of the evidence given before the Commission? Would it not be much better to publish the whole of the evidence?
§ Mr. BENNThat is precisely the point I have answered. I have not seen 1406 the evidence yet; it has not reached this country. What I am concerned with is to give the House as soon as possible the printed report.
§ 5. Mr. REMERasked the Secretary of State for India what instructions were given by the Government of India to the officers commanding the troops during the Cawnpore riots; and if he can inform the House whether those instructions emanated from him?
§ Mr. BENNNo instructions were given by the Government of India to the officer commanding troops in Cawnpore in connection with the riots there.
§ Mr. REMERIs it not a fact that the officers were prevented from firing unless the order was signed by a magistrate?
§ Mr. BENNI have given an answer to the question put by the hon. Member. If he has any further information perhaps he will let me have it.
§ Mr. REMERWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the question as to whether any instructions were given to the officer commanding the troops in Cawnpore?
§ Mr. BENNIf the House will allow me and if the hon. Member desires it, I will read the answer again.
No instructions were given.
§ Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXIs it not a fact that the whole policy of the Government prevented any local officer taking any initiative?
§ 8. Mr. BRACKENasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give the House an assurance that no action will be taken against Mr. J. F. Sale, district magistrate at Cawnpore, before the House has had an opportunity of discussing the report of the commissioners who inquired into the recent massacres at Cawnpore?
§ Mr. BENNMr. Sale was offered the, choice of transfer to another district or of taking leave and has elected to take leave. There is no question of other action in regard to him.
§ Mr. HANNONWill the right hon. Gentleman take care that the interests of Indian civil servants are, in cases like this, safeguarded?
§ Mr. BRACKENIs it not a fact that the Governor of this particular Province admitted a weakness of administration, and are the careers of civil servants to be broken while men in high places remain immune?
§ Mr. BRACKENMay I take it that the career of Mr. Sale will not be affected by the Commission's report?