HL Deb 21 May 1947 vol 147 cc967-8

2.42 p.m.

LORD LLOYD

My Lords, I beg to ask the second question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government, whether they are able to make a statement on the disturbances reported during April from the North West Frontier Province stating casualties and the approximate value of property destroyed and indicating the immediate causes of the outbreaks.]

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, the disturbances which took place in this Province, during April were a continuation of those which have occurred since the latter part of February, when the Provincial Moslem League started a campaign of civil disobedience against the Congress Ministry. While this campaign has in the main taken the form of peaceful processions and demonstrations, I regret to say that a number of cases of violence and destruction of property were reported during the month. These disturbances necessitated vigorous measures by the Provincial Government, including the reinforcement of the police by military forces. During the month 155 persons were killed and 117 injured. I regret it is not possible at present to give your Lordships even an approximate figure of the value of the property destroyed.

LORD LLOYD

I am grateful to the noble Earl for his reply. Arising from it, can the noble Earl say how far these disturbances in the North West Frontier Province during the period in review have been either caused or aggravated by elements from without the border of that Province, and, in particular, whether there have been any cases of disturbing elements from beyond the Durant line?

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

If the noble Lord is referring to the tribes, I can assure him that the tribes have shown commendable restraint during the whole of this period. There has been some infiltration into the settled district on the part of a very small number of Waziristan tribes, but I can assure the noble Lord that they have not contributed to the disturbances to which he has referred.

THE EARL OF SELBORNE

Can the noble Earl tell us whether there is any ground for believing there is an infiltration of weapons into the disturbed area?

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

I would require notice of that question, but I shall be very glad to answer it if the noble Earl cares to put it on the Order Paper.