§ The Under-Secretary of State for India (Mr. Arthur Henderson)With the permission of the House I should like to make a brief statement on the situation in Calcutta.
The casualties reported up till midday on Thursday were: Civilians, 38 dead and 527 injured, of whom 276 were still in hospital. Of the police, 82 were injured, 22 of whom were detained in hospital. The military casualties were, one officer seriously wounded, and two British other ranks and two Indian other ranks injured. The reports which my noble Friend has received since the statement which I made to the House on Wednesday, in reply to the noble Lord the Member for Horsham (Earl Winterton) indicate that Wednesday was marked by a renewal of mob violence which mostly took the form of erection of road blocks, interference with vehicular traffic, and damaging and looting shops and other buildings. The city was, however, quiet on Wednesday night, and all road blocks were removed.
During last night, also, no further incidents were reported. The patrolling of the city by troops continues today, but the standing pickets have been withdrawn. I am glad to be able to announce this increasing improvement in the situation.
§ Earl WintertonWhile I appreciate the fact that responsibility for law and order rests with the local Governments in India, may I ask whether, in case of serious disturbances which obviously affect the safety and welfare of both British and Euoprean nationals, the hon. and learned Gentleman could represent to the Government of India the need for having the earliest information? I put this point to him in view of the fact that I asked him for a statement on the subject on Tuesday, and it is only today that he has been able to give the House this information.
§ Mr. HendersonI will certainly look into that suggestion. But I think that, in fairness, both the Government of India and the India Office, I should say that situation reports, if I may use that term, have been sent in from time to time since the outbreak of the disturbances. I was not able to give the noble Lord a full report at that time, because of the changing situation, but in so far as it is possible, we shall certainly do so.
§ Mr. McGovernWhile realising the objective of the people of India as a whole, can the hon. and learned Gentleman tell us what was the immediate cause of the disturbances in Calcutta, and whether, for instance, the great poverty of the mass of the people in India was one of the causes?
§ Mr. HendersonAccording to my information, the immediate cause of the last outbreak in Calcutta was a demonstration by Moslem students, following the commutation of the sentence of imprisonment for life, in the case of Captain Rashid, to one of cashiering and imprisonment for a term of seven years. The students protested against the fact that he was not released, and, following that, there was a disturbance.