4. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in the past the principle has been accepted by the Government of India that, in view of the reluctance shown by many Indian citizens of British India to be transferred to the jurisdiction of various Indian states, no such transfer should be made without their consent, even when an equivalent in area and population was offered in exchange; and why this principle is departed from in the case of the thousands of British Anglo-Indian and Indian subjects in the civil and military station of Bangalore, whom it is proposed to transfer to the jurisdiction of Mysore, without any equivalent exchange, and in spite of the memorandum of the Bangalore Trades Association of February last, expressing grave anxiety in regard to the effects of retrocession on education, hospitals, municipal administration, the value of property, and the general fabric of trade in the station?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe principle stated is generally recognised as applying when it is a question of transferring British territory with its inhabitants to an Indian State. As regards the second part of the question, no definite decision has yet been taken as to whether any portion of the Assigned Tract of Bangalore shall be retroceded to Mysore. But I would remind the Noble Lady that in any case the territory in question is not British, but is a part of the State of Mysore.