VISCOUNT TEMPLETOWNMy Lords, I rise to ask His Majesty's Government what is being done to reach a satisfactory settlement of the Basle Company's claims for return of their property in India.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (VISCOUNT PEEL)My Lords, I dare say my noble friend will pardon me if my answer is almost as short as 3 the speech which he has delivered, because for some months discussions and conversations have been going on between the Government and the India Office, the Trading Company and the Commonwealth Trust. I cannot assure him at the moment that any very definite results have arisen out of these conversations, but I hope he will appreciate that as the matter is under discussion I am unable at the present moment to make any statement on the subject. I hope, therefore, he will excuse me from giving a more detailed answer at this stage.