§ 10. Brigadier - General CLIFTON-BROWNasked the Secretary of State for India whether any steps are being taken by the Government of India to issue information to the people of India as regards their policy and intentions so as to counter the propaganda spread by Congress and Communists all over the country?
§ Mr. FREEMANOn a point of Order. May I ask for your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, on the reference in the latter part of this question, in which the Congress and the Communists are so linked together as to imply that the Indian National Congress is a Communist body, or, alternatively, that the Communists are working side by side with the members of the Indian National Congress for this purpose?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI saw nothing irregular in the question.
§ Mr. FREEMANMight I suggest that these insinuations might do incalculable harm in India at a time when peaceful negotiations are going on, and whether this question might not be—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not think any insinuation is made.
Brigadier-General BROWNOn the point of Order. Is it not perfectly true and well known that the Congress has issued many seditious pamphlets?
§ Mr. BENNIt is the policy of the Government of India and of the Provincial Administrations, to which they give effect in accordance with the requirements of the moment, both to make known Government policy and to correct misstatements.
Brigadier-General BROWNIs it not possible by means of aeroplanes to drop literature in the vernacular in the villages, or otherwise to put the Government case in the way that others are allowed to put their case?
§ Mr. SMITHERSHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been directed to the policy dictated from Russia, and published in the "Pravda," of—