§ 4. Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will make a statement on the recent operations on the North-West frontier of India and on the present position?
Lord StanleyThe operations in Waziristan up to 5th June, when a suspension of hostilities was granted to the Tori Khel, were described in the White Paper, Cmd. 5495. In August and September the jirgas (tribal assemblies) of the sections which had been most prominent 1378 in the disturbances—the Mahsud sections and the Tori Khel—accepted the peace terms announced to them. These include fines in rifles and in money and the extension of the areas under British protection. Since June the action of small gangs of irresponsible tribesmen, who are not controlled by the tribal authorities, against our troops engaged in road protection and road building, has resulted in several minor engagements and the movements of columns into some of the more inaccessible areas with the object of breaking up these gangs. The Faqir of Ipi is still at large. It is hoped, however, that as the winter advances, the season will restrict the activities of the remaining hostiles. As part of the settlement with the tribes an additional road-making programme is now in hand in part of the country which has hitherto been inaccessible. This should help greatly towards pacifying and improving its economic condition, though it entails the temporary retention of a considerable number of troops in the area over and above the normal garrisons.
§ Rear-Admiral BeamishWill the Under-Secretary consider a greater measure of publicity for these brilliant exploits in order to help to re-awaken some measure of pride in our very slender military forces?
§ Mr. GallacherAre not these "brilliant exploits" the driving of people off their own land?