§ 4. Mr. A. SOMERVILLE (for The Duchess of ATHOLL)asked the Secretary of State for India whether entitlements to land granted by municipal commission in the civil station of Bangalore have been ratified by him or by any of his predecessors?
§ Sir S. HOAREI would refer my Noble Friend to the answer which I gave to her question on 5th November. I have not yet received from the Government of India the information for which I have asked.
§ 5. Mr. A. SOMERVILLE (for The Duchess of ATHOLL)asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a joint memorandum of protest against the proposed retrocession of the civil station of Bangalore signed by the Bangalore Trades Association, the Anglo-Indian and Domiciled European Association, and two ratepayers' associations, states that they have been paying Income Tax at the rate levied in British India, and that land has long been sold in Bangalore to private individuals and public bodies under the authority of successive Secretaries of State; that they are British subjects and have for these reasons regarded the civil State as British territory; and will he say for what reason they are being required to renounce their British citizenship and to become subjects of the State of Mysore?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs I stated in reply to the Noble Lady on 5th November, I have seen the representation referred to, but I know of no proposal whereby British subjects would be required to renounce British nationality and become the subjects of Mysore.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEMay I take it that no British citizens will be transferred to native rule without their consent?
§ Sir S. HOAREThat is a very general question, and. I think my hon. Friend had better put it down.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEIs the Secretary of State aware of the strong feeling in Bangalore that the inhabitants, as British citizens, are being transferred to native rule as an inducement to Mysore to come into Indian federation?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have already answered that question. The situation is not as my hon. Friend says.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEOn a point of Order. In view of the indefinite character of the reply, I beg to give notice that at an early opportunity I shall raise the question of the cession of Bangalore and Tangasseri—if possible, this day week.