§ 1. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he will give the House the latest information he has as to the political situation in India?
§ 10. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for India if he will inform the House as to the latest situation in India?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Sir Samuel Hoare)I am circulating a statement covering the events of the past week.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNECan my right hon. Friend give us any further information regarding the recent murders of policemen?
§ Sir S. HOARENo, Sir. I have not yet any further information.
§ Mr. HOLFORD KNIGHTCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any information as to the interference with a meeting in Delhi when a large number of arrests were made?
§ Sir S. HOAREThere is a private notice question on that subject.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMay I ask whether, as a result of the weekly reports, there has been any change in the attitude of the right hon. Gentleman?
§ Sir S. HOARENo, Sir.
§ Following is the statement:
§ The Viceroy's visit to Peshawar was entirely successful. There were no hostile demonstrations, and no clashes with the police have been reported.
§ Congress made attempts to hold their annual session at Delhi yesterday. Preventive action was taken by the various Provinces to keep down the attendance, and the Delhi administration had to make a number of arrests, including Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. Mrs. Naidu was arrested by the Bombay Gov- 3 ernment and has been sentenced to one year's simple imprisonment.
§ Figures for convictions during March show a large drop, being approximately 7,000, as compared with 15,000 in January and 18,000 in February.
§ An increasing feature of the civil disobedience movement is malicious damage to property. Damage to telegraph wires has been reported from several centres. Burning of letters in letter-boxes is spreading.