§ 97. Sir A. Knoxasked the Under-Secretary of State for India who was responsible for sending out Lieutenant Beatty on 7th February with a large sum of money and without adequate escort?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for India (Mr. Butler)Lieutenant Beatty was proceeding, in the course of his duties as Assistant Political Officer, to pay the khassadars in the Datta Khel and Razmak areas. He was accompanied by four khassadars in his car and two in the lorry behind. Under the system of tribal responsibility, the protection of the roads is part of the responsibility of the khassadars, or tribal police. Travellers are accompanied, when necessary, by an escort of one or more of these tribesmen, and this is the normally effective form of protection, because an attack on the escort or persons so escorted is a violation of tribal custom. On the other hand, a military escort has not this advantage, and its employment in certain circumstances might provoke an attack. The commission of an outrage of such a character on the road is, of course, an exceedingly grave event. The Government are determined to take all necessary measures for the restoration of order and the protection of its servants and the public.
§ Sir A. KnoxHas it not been proved that the presence of these Khassadars is quite insufficient as an escort when £2,000 is carried by an officer, and would it not be better in the future to have an armoured car in front in order to give some measure of protection to the officer?
§ Mr. ButlerA great deal of money is paid to the Khassadars in exactly the same manner as on this occasion. My Noble Friend sees no reason to suppose that this is not the normal method on such an occasion, much as he may regret what occurred.
§ Sir A. KnoxAlthough it may be the normal method, has it not been proved that it was insufficient protection for this young officer?
§ Mr. ButlerIt is not insufficient protection on a normal occasion.