HC Deb 07 November 1911 vol 30 cc1621-2W
Sir W. BYLES

asked the Under-Secretary for India are the orders still in force under which political officers are prohibited from crossing the Indian frontier without Government sanction; and, if so, did Mr. Williamson obtain permission to disregard these orders, either on his last visit or on his former visits to the Abor country?

Mr. MONTAGU

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The answer to the second part is in the negative. Neither the Local Government nor the Government of India were aware of Mr Williamson's previous visit to the Abor country in 1909, until after his return. In consequence of an invitation from a Gam of Kebong, whom he met accidentally, he visited Kebong village on 11th February, 1909. He refused invitations from the Abors to advance further, and left Kebong on 12th February, returning to the "Inner" Line on the 17th.