§ Mr. VERNEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, considering that the deported State prisoners have now been in detention for more than six months, he will state to the House if their case has been under review by the Indian Government, and with what result?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThe Government of India have not yet reported the result of their consideration of the case.
§ Mr. HALLEY STEWARTasked whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Lajpat Rai, who in 1907 was deported for sedition, has completely succeeded in exonerating himself from the charge of being a seditious person made by a Calcutta newspaper, and has been awarded £1,000 damages in a libel action recently tried before Mr. Justice Fletcher in the High Court of Calcutta, the Secretary of State will consider the desirability of allowing to the nine British subjects who were deported in December last, without charge or trial, some opportunity of appearing before an impartial tribunal so as to meet the charges which led to their deportation?
The MASTER of ELIBANKIt is understood that the newspaper to which the hon. Member refers has appealed against Mr. Justice Fletcher's judgment. But, in any case, as no charges have been made against the persons now detained under Regulation III. of 1818, the Secretary of State sees no connection between the hon. Member's premises and the conclusion which he desires should be drawn from them.