§ 10. Sir REGINALD CRADDOCKasked the Secretary of State for India 6 whether he will take measures to prohibit the circulation, now continuing, of formal threats of boycotting addressed to non-Indian mills unless their managers subscribe to a number of declarations incompatible with their liberties as British subjects?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe situation, inherited by me, in which firms on pain of being driven out of business are required to give undertakings which otherwise they would not give has caused me great concern, and I am in correspondence with the Government of India on the subject. My hon. Friend will be the first to appreciate the difficulties that stand in the way of Government intervention so long as no breach of the law is committed.
§ Sir R. CRADDOCKIs there any obstacle at present in the prosecution of Congress agents for criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, or attempted extortion?
§ Sir S. HOAREThat is just the kind of question into which I am inquiring with the Government of India, and I will only add that so far as the circular is concerned, the original document was withdrawn, and the circular, although still objectionable, is a great deal less objectionable than it was some months ago.