§ 18. Mr. LEVYasked the Secretary of State for India when the Joint Committee on the Indian Constitution will be set up and when the Bill is likely to be introduced?
§ Sir S. HOAREI hope that Parliament will authorise the setting up of the Joint Select Committee before Easter. The 781 date on which a Bill can be introduced must depend on the work of the Committee.
§ 22. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Secretary of State for India what reply he has sent to the appeal sent to him on behalf of the 30,000,000 Moslems of the Punjab, the North-West Frontier Province, Kashmir, Sindh, and Beluchistan, setting forth their fears of Hindu domination in an all-India federation, and asking for a separate federation of these five northern units; and whether, in view of the representations contained in this appeal, he will say what further safeguards he proposes for minority communities in India?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have seen copies of a printed circular, distributed from an address at Cambridge, bearing the names of four gentlemen who claim to speak for 30,000,000 of their fellow Moslems. As I am in constant communication with many representative Moslems, it did not seem to me necessary to take any special action in connection with this letter. As regards the last part of the question, I must ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await the Government's proposals.
§ 15. Mr. McENTEE (for Mr. DAVID GRENFELL)asked the Secretary of State fur India what steps the Government of India and His Majesty's Government have under consideration with a view to the unification of Ceylon with the future federal Government of India?
§ Sir S. HOARENo such steps are under consideration.
§ Mr. LEWISCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the inhabitants of Ceylon have expressed any desire to come into the federation?
§ Sir S. HOAREThat is a question which should be addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.