§ 22. Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that when in the recent famine the Government of Bengal realised the position and endeavoured to secure grain from the surplus areas, some 2,000 telegrams passed through the Calcutta post office advising up-country dealers not to buy or sell at the prices quoted; and whether, in the interests of the people of India, he will instruct the censorship in future to stop such telegrams.
§ Mr. AmeryI have seen reports to this effect. I will inquire as to the facts and as to the most suitable means of dealing with such matters in future.
§ Sir A. KnoxSurely the senders of those 2,000 telegrams nullified the efforts which the Government evolved to deal with the famine, because they were engineering a corner in grain. Cannot steps be taken to stop such telegrams?
§ Mr. AmeryYes, Sir, but I am really not in a position to know how far that information reached the Government of Bengal at the time or how far the Government were in a position to apply the censorship Regulations.
§ Sir A. KnoxCould not my right hon. Friend make the suggestion to these people, who are new to the art of government, that they might look into the matter later on, in view of the fact that thousands of persons lost their lives in the famine?
§ Mr. AmeryIf my hon. and gallant Friend will read my answer he will find that that is exactly what I propose to do.