§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONasked the Secretary of State for India if he will state the offence with which Mr. G. S. Arundale is charged; and whether he is aware that Mr. Arundale has given valuable personal and pecuniary help to this country during the War?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI assume that in making the Order in question under the Defence of India Rules, restricting the liberties of Mrs. Annie Besant, Mr. Arundale, and Mr. Wadia, the Madras Government were of opinion that, in the words of the Rules, there were reasonable grounds for believing that Mr. Arundale had acted, was acting, or was about to act, in a manner prejudicial to the public safety or the defence of British India. I am as yet without particulars, but other Governments besides the Madras Government have satisfied themselves that the activities of Mrs. Besant and her1988W associates have excited an unrest which might easily become dangerous at the present time, and I am confident that the Government of Madras have taken this action reluctantly, and I do not doubt that it was necessary. On the second part of the question I have only such information as the hon. Member has himself given me.