§ 32. Lieut.-Commander AGNEW (for Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOX)asked the Secretary of State for India how many Indian princes have already expressed their willingness to enter the federation; and whether any decision has yet been arrived at regarding the representation of those States whose rulers may refuse to enter the federation?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Butler)As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers given to questions by my hon. Friend the Member for West Islington 1762 (Mr. Donner) and by himself on the 26th June last. My hon. and gallant Friend will recognise that the occasion for definite decisions by individual princes to enter the federation cannot arise until after the passage of legislation providing for a federation. If I understand the second part of the question rightly, it refers to the suggestion that weightage should be given to the representation of acceding States in respect of States which do not accede to the federation. This is a question falling within the terms of reference of the Joint Select Committee.