17. Earl WINTERTONasked the Secretary of State for India the casualties to date, giving the total only of killed and wounded in the case of Government forces and rebels, respectively, in the outbreak in Burma according to the latest information in his possession?
§ 23. Mr. AYLESasked the Secretary of State for India the total number of casualties suffered by and inflicted by the British troops and police in Burma since December, 1930?
§ Mr. BENNI am circulating a statement dealing with the events of last week, which includes the latest information as to casualties.
The casualties among military and police up to the 10th June are as follow:
The rebel casualties are still unknown, but efforts are being made to collect approximate figures.
- Army: killed 5, wounded 5.
- Military Police: killed 12, wounded 41.
- Civil Police: killed 32, wounded 27.
§ Following is the statement:
§ The only important engagement during the week took place in Prome, where 70 rebels attacked 30 military police and were repulsed with the loss of 11 killed, including their leader. There were no Government casualties. Dacoities are still numerous, particularly in Tharrawaddy, Henzada and Thayetmyo. In Prome a number of rebels have surrendered. The District authorities have enlisted the help of Pongyis, and hope that this will have good results.
§ 2. Attacks on Indians continue, but are gradually decreasing and have not spread to any fresh districts.
§ 3. Government has issued a proclamation of amnesty to all except leaders and participators in serious outrages, on an undertaking being given by them that they will return to their villages, assist the Government, and give information about the rebellion. His Excellency has had several interviews with leaders of different communities and parties, at which it was requested that the scope of 11 the amnesty should be widened, and this proposal is being considered.
§ 4. Government casualties which have occurred since my telegram of 27th May are: killed in action, one Burma Rifles Subadar, one Military Police sepoy; killed by accident, one Burma Rifles sepoy; wounded, four Military Police sepoys and one follower. Totals of casualties corrected up to the 10th June are as follows: Army, killed five, wounded five; Military Police, killed 12, wounded 41; Civil Police, killed 32, wounded 27; other Government servants, killed five, wounded three; Village Headmen, killed 15, wounded three. Rebel casualties are still unknown, but efforts are being made to collect approximate figures.
§ 5. The economic situation is unchanged. The late break of the rains has delayed cultivation in many districts, and it is impossible yet to distinguish the effect of this from the effects of the rebellion on the economic situation.
19. Earl WINTERTONasked the Secretary of State for India if he is satisfied that sufficient troops are operating in the rebel area in Burma to deal effectively with the outbreak and to avoid undue strain upon any particular unit?
§ Mr. BENNThe Government of India have assured me that there are sufficient troops in Burma to deal with the outbreak as at present developed without straining any particular unit.
§ 20. Mr. BECKETTasked the Secretary of State for India whether any Burmans arrested during the present hostilities since December last have been sent to the Andaman Islands; and, if so, how many?
§ 25. Mr. SANDHAMasked the Secretary of State for India the number of Burmans, men, women and children, who have been arrested as rebels since the beginning of hostilities in December last, and how many are still detained?
§ 28. Mr. KINLEYasked the Secretary of State for India whether any Burmans arrested during the rebellion have been transported or executed; and, if so, how many?
§ Mr. BENNI have asked for the information requested in these Questions, but I am afraid it has not yet reached 12 me. When it does I will communicate with my hon. Friends.
§ Mr. BECKETTWill the right hon. Gentleman try to see that none of these men, women and children are sent to the Andaman Islands until he has satisfied himself as to the conditions there?
§ 21. Mr. BECKETTasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that many corpses of Burmans killed in the present hostilities have been decapitated by the police; and what steps he has taken to stop this?
§ Mr. BENNI have received no information beyond that in the Press report of 16th June, from which it appears that any repetition of the incident has been strictly forbidden by the local authorities and by the Government of Burma.
§ Mr. BECKETTHave any steps been taken to punish the officer responsible?
§ Mr. BENNI cannot say as to that. What has been done is to prevent any repetition of this incident.
§ 22. Mr. BECKETTasked the Secretary of State for India the total number of troops now engaged on the British side in the Burmese insurrection?
§ Mr. BECKETTDoes that include Indian troops?
§ Mr. MARLEYIs the Secretary of State aware that it is stated that these are not rebels, but simply people who have refused to pay land tax because of their poverty?
§ Mr. BENNMy hon. Friend may rest assured that, in addition to taking the necessary steps for maintaining order, we are doing everything m our power to investigate the political and economic causes.
Earl WINTERTONIs it not a fact that these people committed horrible outrages on innocent Indians, and would it 13 not be as well that hon. Gentlemen below the Gangway should be made acquainted with the facts?
§ Mr. BROCKWAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the prices of paddy and beans have fallen by 50 per cent., and that the price of cotton has fallen by 80 per cent.?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question on the Paper is about the number of troops.
24. Miss LEEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a special regulation is now in force in Burma which prohibits more than four persons from meeting together at any period of the day; and what instructions the police have received with regard to dealing with any breach of this regulation?
§ Mr. BENNI have no knowledge of any such special order. Perhaps my hon. Friend has in mind Section 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which empowers a magistrate or police officer to require the dispersal of any assembly of five or more persons if it is likely to cause a disturbance of the peace.
§ 26. Mr. SANDHAMasked the Secretary of State for India if he has any information showing whether any Indians resident in Burma are connected with the hostilities there on the Burmese side; and, if so, to what extent numerically?
§ Mr. BENNI have no information that Indians resident in Burma are taking any considerable part in the rebel's activities. My hon. Friend will recollect that a complicating factor in the situation is the active hostility display by Burmans in certain districts to the Indian community settled there.
Earl WINTERTONWill there be, in the statement which the right hon. Gentleman is issuing, any account of the horrible atrocities committed by these Burman criminals upon Indians?
§ Mr. BENNWe are preparing a statement giving an account of the whole of this deplorable insurrection.
Earl WINTERTONWill it not be possible to get that specific information for the information of hon. Gentlemen below the Gangway?
§ Mr. BECKETT rose——
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Kinley.
§ 27. Mr. KINLEYasked the Secretary of State for India what efforts, if any, have been made to open up discussions with the leaders of the Burmans, now in revolt, with a view to remedying any grievances responsible for the opening of hostilities and the restoration of peace?
§ Mr. BENNThe Governor of Burma has had several interviews with leaders of different communities and parties in Burma, the nature of which is described in the statement which I am circulating.
§ Mr. BROCKWAYDid the Burmese leaders make proposals for a settlement of this issue, and proposals for the release of prisoners?
§ Mr. BENNI am afraid that the information which I have in the telegram which was sent on account of this question is no fuller than the information which is in the possession of hon. Members.
§ Mr. BRACKENCould the right hon. Gentleman say why the Governor of Burma should negotiate with rebels in arms against the Crown?
§ Mr. BENNIf the hon. Gentleman had read the reports he would have seen that there have been no negotiations with rebels.
§ Mr. BRACKENYou say there have.
§ 30. Mr. AYLESasked the Secretary of State for India what is the total cost to date of the military operations in Burma?
§ Mr. BENNI should not expect to receive periodical reports of the cost, at any rate at the present stage; but I will see what information is so far available in India.
§ 34. Mr. FREEMANasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can yet make any statement as to the carrying on of the proposals of the Round Table Conference for the future government of Burma?
§ Mr. FREEMANHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to statements in the Press that it was proposed 15 to hold this Round Table Conference on Burma in London at the same time as the other Round Table Conference?