§ 11. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to an announcement made by the Viceroy at Delhi on the 6th March, postponing indefinitely the general election to the legislative assembly on the grounds that His Majesty's Government is pressing forward with plans for a federal constitution; and whether this decision had his sanction?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe Governor-General informed me before his announcement of his decision and I saw no reason to question it.
§ Sir A. KNOXDoes not an announcement like this prejudge the decision of Parliament and prejudge the decision of the native princes whether or not they come into Federation?
§ Sir S. HOARENo, Sir, not in the least. The Governor-General thought that it would be common sense not to have a general election until we see what changes, if any, were to take place.
§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the fact, as reported in the Press, that the Lieutenant-Governor of Madras has stated that anyone who has studied the speeches of the Viceroy and Sir Samuel Hoare knows from them that it has been decided that provincial autonomy and central responsibility would be given 1587 simultaneously? Will he assure the House that that is incorrect, in view of the fact that it is laid down in the Government of India Act that Parliament shall decide?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have always made the position clear that Parliament must be the ultimate tribunal.
§ Sir A. KNOXDoes not the making of an announcement like this to 350,000,000 people prejudge the decision of Parliament? What is the use of saying that Parliament has free and unfettered discretion and what is the use of setting up the committee?
§ Sir S. HOARENo, Sir. I do not agree at all. I think it was common sense to put off the election until we saw what Parliament was going to do.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONDid not the Viceroy go further than that and say that a Federal Assembly was going to be set up?