§ 5. Major POLEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he will state the charge on which Mr. M. N. Roy has been arrested in India and the place of the alleged offence; and if he will give information in respect of the constitution of the court in which the case will be heard and the present position reached in the proceedings?
§ Sir S. HOAREM. N. Roy was an absconder in the Cawnpore conspiracy case of 1924, in which four persons were convicted of an offence under Section 121A. of the Indian Penal Code. I understand that he was arrested on a warrant issued in 1924 by the District Magistrate, Cawnpore, on a charge of an offence under this Section, and that the preliminary proceedings against him have been opened before the District, Magistrate at Cawnpore.
§ Major POLEWill the right hon. Gentleman ask the Government of India to have these proceedings hurried on and not dragged out over years?
§ Sir S. HOAREI will certainly bear in mind what the hon. and gallant Gentleman says, but he will see at once that it is very difficult for me or anyone else to interfere with statutory procedure in the Indian courts.
§ Mr. BROCKWAYMay I again ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will consider whether it is worth while reverting to a charge six years old under present conditions, and whether that is the best way to obtain friendly relations towards India?
§ Sir S. HOAREI cannot be drawn into an argument on that question. I should have thought the worst possible way to maintain or foster friendly relations is to take action which might endanger law and order.
§ Mr. McSHANEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Government is actually violating the statutory conditions governing teachers' salaries?