§ 16. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, with a view to securing the wholehearted cooperation of India with this country, he will immediately issue a pronouncement that it is the Government's policy to grant responsible self-government to India as soon as may be feasible and that for this purpose representatives of all the leading parties and communities will immediately be invited to attend a conference for the purpose of framing a constitution to embody full and responsible self-government for India?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for India (Sir Hugh O'Neill)As regards the first part of his question, I would refer the 390 hon. Member to the Governor-General's statement of 17th October and to subsequent observations on it by the Lord Privy Seal and my Noble Friend the Secretary of State respectively, in both Houses of Parliament. As regards the second part of the question, I can add nothing to the statement made by my Noble Friend on 7th November, the substance of which I repeated in this House.
§ Mr. KirkwoodDoes not the Under-Secretary of State for India realise that I am here giving him a glorious opportunity to hand his name down to history as the individual who initiated the idea of giving India self-government, so as not to leave India in the same condition as we have left Ireland at the moment?
§ Sir H. O'NeillI am very much obliged to the hon. Member for the opportunity.