5. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware 5 that since the new year a conspiracy trial has been in progress in Calcutta in which no less than 33 alleged terrorists from Bengal, Madras, the Punjab, the United Provinces, Burma, and the Central Provinces were being tried; whether he can inform the House of the charges brought against the accused; and if any judgments, and, is so, to what effect have been pronounced?
§ Mr. BUTLERMy right hon. Friend is aware that the Government of Bengal sanctioned the institution of a conspiracy case as a result of material discovered by the police in Calcutta, but he has not yet received information as to its progress.
Duchess of ATHOLLIs my hon. Friend aware that the President of the European Association, in the original draft of the speech which he made recently when the association entertained the Viceroy, described this case as "a remarkable plot, which shows, more than in other recent cases, the increasing extent of the terrorist movement"?
§ Mr. BUTLERAs I informed my Noble Friend last week, the Government must pay attention to speeches as they are delivered. As regards the fact which she has disclosed, I feel sure that all the information will come to notice, and, if not, we shall ask for it.
6. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that one of the accused in the present Madras conspiracy case, who has turned informer, has given evidence that he had learned the process of bomb manufacture from Bengal terrorist prisoners with whom he was imprisoned in Trichinopoli Gaol, having attended some 50 or 60 classes, each lasting for some two or three hours, in the State prisoners' ward where the cult of violence was taught; and whether he can assure the House that prisoners accused of terrorism will no longer be given any opportunity of imparting such instruction to prisoners not previously connected with the movement?
§ Mr. BUTLERThe Crown Prosecutor in this case informed the court that it was by coming into contact with certain Bengali terrorist detenus that the accused were instructed in the cult of terrorism. To avoid such dangers, a number of terrorist convicts have been transferred 6 to the Andamans instead of to gaols in other Provinces of British India. Terrorist detenus are normally held in concentration camps of their own. As regards terrorist prisoners in gaols in Madras, steps are being taken to arrange for their more effective segregation.
Duchess of ATHOLLAre we to understand that the authorities in Madras regard as well founded the statements made by this informer as to the instruction in terrorist methods which he had obtained while in prison?
§ Mr. BUTLERI understand that this particular case took place about two years ago.