§ 12. Mr. LEWISasked the Secretary of State for India if he will give the House the latest information he has as to the political situation in India?
§ 15. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Secretary of State for India if he will give the House the latest information he has as to the political situation in. India?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Sir Samuel Hoare)In reply to these questions, I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement covering the events of the past fortnight.
Following is the statement:
The general situation has continued to show improvement during the past fortnight and the number of convictions in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement during this period shows a decline in the United Provinces, Bihar and Orissa, and Central Provinces.
10 In Bombay, at a meeting of the Cotton Brokers Association on 29th March, arising out of a conference with the Finance Member in the previous week, it was resolved to permit forward dealings for July-August and to resume business on three days a week. In the Punjab attempts by the Ahrars to revive picketing in Amritsar are proving ineffectual. On the frontier, the situation in Bajaur continues to improve.
There are signs of communal tension in certain areas.
In the Legislative Assembly an adjournment motion against pressing on with constitutional reforms while Mr. Gandhi is in jail was defeated without a division.
§ Mr. LEWISCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether, generally speaking, the situation is improving?
§ Sir S. HOAREYes, generally speaking, the situation is improving.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESHave the various committees which were appointed recently finished their labours?
§ Sir S. HOAREOne of them has finished. The other two have still some work to do.