§ 4. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Secretary of State for India whether, before coming to any decision regarding the Berars, he will take into consideration the fact that the representatives of the Berars in the Central Provinces legislative council have expressed their opposition to the proposed retrocession of the province to His Highness the Nizam?
§ Sir S. HOAREIf my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to the answers which I gave to his questions on the 1st May he will see that there is no proposal for the retrocession of Berar to His Exalted Highness the Nizam.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the speech which His Highness, the Nizam, recently made in India referring to some of the conclusions in this case, and can we have an assurance that this House will be as early as the Council of the Nizam in possession of the report when they have come to a decision?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have not seen the speech to which the right hon. and gallant Member refers. I shall be ready to give an answer in the House as soon as I have definite information upon which to base it.
§ Sir A. KNOXIs there absolutely no truth in the report that the sovereignty of the Berars is to be retroceded to His Highness the Nizam?
§ Sir S. HOAREThere is no question of retroceding sovereignty. There is no question of sovereignty. The sovereignty is the sovereignty of the Nizam.
§ Sir A. KNOXIs it not true that negotiations are in progress with the 2204 Nizam and have been for the last two years on this subject?
§ Sir S. HOARECertainly. I have said so six or seven times in answer to questions by the hon. and gallant Member.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs there not a possibility of the natives of Berars acquiring rights as British subjects and being put on a par with the rest of British India?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe right hon. and gallant Member is raising the kind of question that is now under discussion. Obviously, I cannot give him an answer on a question of that kind until the discussions are over.