§ 5. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the case of 40 political prisoners who are on hunger strike in the Andamans; if so, will he state how many deaths have occurred and the date of each death; and will he state what reason prompted the authorities to send political prisoners to that area?
§ Mr. BUTLERReports have been received from the Government of India. Three deaths occurred, on the 18th, the 26th and about the 28th of May. In two cases death is stated to have been caused by pneumonia and not to have been due to hunger-striking. As regards the last part of the question, my right hon. Friend explained the reason for the transfer of these terrorist convicts in his reply to the hon. Member for West-houghton (Mr. Rhys Davies) on 11th July, 1932.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether it is not very unusual to send political prisoners to the Andamans; and, in view of the fact that no less than three out of 40 of these prisoners, all of whom are on hunger 1158 strike as a result of being sent there, have died, does he not think that the Government of India ought to remove the prisoners?
§ Mr. BUTLERI cannot agree that the Government of India should remove the prisoners in view of the previous answer of my right hon. Friend. In regard to the latter part of the question, the hunger strike was started with a view to breaking prison discipline, and the authorities were bound to resist it.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it not a fact that the hunger strike actually started because prisoners were sent to the Andamans, and, since no less than three lives have been lost, does not the hon. Gentleman think that the Government of India ought to reconsider this question?
§ Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXIs it not a fact that British troops are quartered at the Andamans and that there have been no cases of hunger strike among them?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan the hon. Gentleman say whether there is any truth in the last statement, or whether the Government of India would send Europeans to the Andamans at all?
§ 6. Major MILNERasked the Secretary of State for India whether he has considered the telegram sent by a number of prominent Indians, who are not associated with the Indian Congress, emphasising the view that it is time that political prisoners detained without trial, or convicted of offences not involving violence, should be released and stressing the value of Congress participation in the shaping of the Indian constitution; and whether he proposes to accede to their representations?
§ Mr. BUTLERMy right hon. Friend has received a copy of the telegram, but he finds nothing in it which justifies him in adding to what he said in this House on the 13th February.
§ Major MILNERDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that this is a golden opportunity for the Government in view of the suspension of civil disobedience?
§ Mr. BUTLERI am afraid that I have nothing to add to the statement I have made, and to which I must refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDo we understand from the reply that in no conceivable circumstances will the Government change their minds?
§ Mr. BUTLERI must refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which was given, and which, as he will see, was circulated.