3. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India, whether, in view of the provisions of Clause 294 of the Government of India Bill, the retrocession of any part of the cantonment at Secunderabad to Hyderabad or of any part of the Mhow cantonment to Indore is under consideration?
§ Mr. BUTLERMy Noble Friend is not aware of any such proposal. I should add that the clause in question only gives legal form to the present position, and makes no effective change.
Duchess of ATHOLLIn view of the fact that for many years there has been a convention by which no territory is transferred from British India without the consent of the inhabitants concerned, and since this indicates that there are Indians who prefer British rule to Indian, will my hon. Friend give an undertaking that no such transfer will be made without ascertaining the views of the inhabitants?
§ Mr. BUTLERThe undertaking given in the past is with regard to British territory, and I am sure that in any case of British territory the considerations that the Noble Lady has in mind will be borne in mind.
Duchess of ATHOLLMay I point out that that does not quite answer my question, namely, that does not the existence of the convention indicate that there are Indians who prefer to remain under British rule?
§ Mr. KIRKPATRICKIs it not a fact that there are just as many Indians who prefer to go under Indian States as to remain under British rule?