HC Deb 10 July 1935 vol 304 cc325-6
48. Duchess of ATHOLL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Maharajah of Mysore in 1881 assigned free of charge to the exclusive management of the British Government the lands forming the civil and military station of Bangalore, and renounced the exercise of all jurisdiction of the land so assigned, and that proposals for retrocession made by the Government of Mysore in 1912 and 1924, respectively, were not accepted by the Government of India; and why the Government of India are now negotiating with the Government of Mysore for the handing over of the civil station of Bangalore to the jurisdiction of the Government of Mysore?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Butler)

The lands forming the civil and military station of Bangalore were assigned by Mysore to the British Government in 1881 in the manner described by the Noble Lady for the purposes stated in Article 9 of the Mysore Instrument of Transfer. Under that Article the State agreed to the maintenance or establishment of British cantonments whenever and wherever the Governor-General in Council might consider such cantonments necessary. The present negotiations relate to the extent of the area now required by the British Government for the purposes agreed upon. I am not aware of any proposals for retrocession made by the Government of Mysore in 1912. In 1923 His Highness the Maharaja made a personal appeal to the then Viceroy.

Duchess of ATHOLL

Will my hon. Friend answer my question as to the reason why this proposal which he admits was made in 1923 and was not entertained is now being entertained?

Mr. BUTLER

I have given the Noble Lady the reason for the present negotiations. I would remind her that these follow official proposals which were made by the Mysore Government to the Government of India in 1928 and to the Davidson Committee in 1932.

Duchess of ATHOLL

Is my hon. Friend aware that in the memorial of protest against the transfer drawn up by trade and ratepayers' associations of British and Anglo-Indians, it is stated that it is a matter of common knowledge that this transfer would not have been agreed to had not Mysore made it a condition of entering the Federation?