4. Sir Nairne Stewart Sandemanasked the Under-Secretary of State for India when the replies of the Indian States in respect of accession to the proposed federation are expected?
§ Mr. ButlerAs a preliminary to the initiation of negotiations for accession to the Federation the States have been asked to specify any limitations on the exercise of the legislative and executive authority of the Federation to which, if they should decide at a later stage to execute an Instrument of Accession, they would wish their accession to be subject. Their replies are now being received and studied along with the report referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. Graham White) on 15th March.
§ Mr. ButlerThe Secretary of State expects to hear shortly from the Government of India as to any points of difficulty which have emerged from the discussions with the States, on which his decision is needed.