§ Captain FULLERasked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that the Commander-in-Chief in India has expressed the view that economy measures in the Army have now been carried so far that efficiency is imperilled; if he has given consideration to these views; and if he has given any instructions to the Government of India on the matter?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe economy measures in the Army have been effected with the concurrence and under the directions of the Commander-in-Chief, and I am not aware that he has expressed any view implying that they have now been carried so far as to imperil the discharge of his responsibilities. The last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.
§ Captain FULLERasked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that there is a growing feeling of dissatisfaction among the Viceroy-commissioned 337W officers of the Indian Army at the decision to abolish their commissions under the new organisation for Indianised units; and if he will reconsider this question, in consultation with the military authorities in India, in the light of the recommendations of the Indian Sandhurst Committee that they should be eligible for the King's commission?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe policy is to replace Viceroy's commissioned officers gradually by Indian commissioned officers as these are posted to Indianised units from the Indian Military Academy. There is no question of withdrawing or abolishing commissions already held. The effect will thus be to curtail in some degree the prospects hitherto held out to members of the Indian rank and file of obtaining Viceroy's commissions. On the other hand, they now have new prospects of attaining warrant rank in the Indianised units, and, what is still more important, of being selected for admission to the Indian Military Academy, where half the vacancies are reserved for Indian Army cadets, who are thereupon trained for the King's commission.