§ Sir C. YATEasked they Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that the district magistrate of Shahjahanpur has now been compelled to apply for British troops to quell the Hindoo-Moslem disturbances at that place, and that the reduction of 18,000 British troops below the pre-War figure has placed too great a strain on the ability of the military authorities in India to meet all the demands made on them for assistance in suppressing internal disturbances; and whether the question of the reductions in the strength of the British garrison in India will now be brought up for reconsideration by the Defence Committee and the authorities concerned?
§ Mr. RICHARDSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Secretary of State does not accept as a fact the suggestion contained in the second part, which is not supported 521W by any of the information in his possession. The answer to the third part is in the negative.