§ 7. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for India the reason why Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose's passport forbids his entrance into the United Kingdom and Germany; whether the Government of India have received any communication from the German Government on the matter; and for what reasons this exclusion has been made?
§ Sir S. HOAREMr. Subhas Bose was detained as a State prisoner in India under Regulation III of 1818 and has been permitted to come to Europe solely on grounds of health. He has been given facilities to visit such European countries as were considered necessary for the purposes of treatment and for consulting specialists, but in view of his previous activities it was decided that he could not be granted unrestricted freedom of travel. There is no question of any communication from a foreign Government.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that a regulation made in 1818 ought to cover this case when, as the right hon. Gentleman suggests, the visit would be one based upon Mr. Bose's desire to improve his health?
§ Sir S. HOAREI think on the whole the Government of India have treated this man in a very fair manner. They gave him every facility for his treatment in Europe, but, in view of his past record, we cannot give him unrestricted facilities to travel wherever he wishes to go.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIf the right hon. Gentleman is satisfied that the only desire of Mr. Bose is to improve his health, does he not think permission might be granted for him to visit either Germany or this country?
§ Sir S. HOARENo. The hon. Member will see that we have given permission for him to have treatment in those centres in Europe where he can get that treatment. As far as we know, the treatment that he requires he wilt get in the cities to which he is going.