§ 40. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any statements to make as to the situation in India?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Butler)Except for the recent regrettable outbreak of rioting in Bombay, the internal situation in India remains satisfactory. The cause of the riot which broke out in Bombay on 15th October, the nature of which was essentially communal, was the building of a Hindu assembly room next to a Moslem mosque. The disturbances continued for five days, during the course of which the police had to open fire. A troublesome feature of the rioting was the continuance of isolated stabbing affrays between members of the two communities. By 22nd October the Government of Bombay were able to report that the situation was fully under control and conditions had returned to normal. The total number of casualties was 60 dead and 500 wounded.
The monsoon has been favourable over the greater part of India, and crop prospects are generally satisfactory except in parts of the Bombay Presidency where, however, recent rains have considerably eased the situation. In the United Provinces there were severe floods in September but prompt and efficient measures were taken by local officers to deal with the situation, and although 7,000 villages were affected only 50 lives were lost.
Arrangements for the provincial elections under the new constitution, which are for the most part to be held in February, are in train. In his address at the opening of the Indian Legislature on 21st September, the sincerity of which has been acknowledged by all sections of opinion in the country, His Excellency the Viceroy drew attention to the fact that an experiment in representative self-government without parallel in history was about to be initiated. He emphasised the new responsibility and the new opportunity of the individual voter, and appealed for the co-operation of all political parties and individuals in working the reforms.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESWill the hon. Gentleman be able to assure the House that there is no sort of interference on the part of Government officials to prevent the Congress party conveying their political programme to the electors?
§ Mr. BUTLERI would remind the hon. Gentleman of what was said broadly upon this subject in the Indian Legislature, and I think it may be taken that the 23 views expressed there by Government spokesmen represent the views of the Government on this matter.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the censorship of the Press be in any way toned down during the election campaign?
§ Mr. BUTLERI think that that is a matter we must leave to the discretion of the authorities in India.
§ Mr. AMERYCan my hon. Friend inform the House in connection with the recent Bombay riots whether the police in India have been provided with tear-gas equipment so as to avoid the terrible results which often follow upon the use of rifle fire?
§ Mr. BUTLERCertain experiments have been made in the Punjab with tear-gas, and my Noble Friend has this matter under consideration.
§ Miss WILKINSONHave experiments been made as to suitable whips to be used in the flogging sentences?
§ Mr. BUTLERI would remind the hon. Lady that the recent whippings that occurred in Bombay occurred under powers which were given by the Bombay Legislature in the Bombay Whipping Act, 1933.