HC Deb 24 March 1920 vol 127 cc427-8W
Mr. WATERSON

asked the Secretary of State for India whether Lord Hardinge, at the request of the India Office or otherwise, sent, prior to his retirement from the Viceroyalty and Governor-Generalship of India, a despatch making important recommendations for constitutional reforms: if so, would he have any objection to the publication of that despatch to complete the series of records issued on that subject; and would he state the main recommendations contained in the despatch and the principle upon which Lord Hardinge's recommendations were based, and particularly would he indicate whether Lord Hardinge contemplated the introduction of the principle of duality or diarchy, or did Lord Hardinge elaborate the suggestion of provincial autonomy made in the despatch sent by him about the time of the last Delhi Durbar?

Mr. FISHER

Though the question of constitutional reforms was, of course, under consideration before Lord Hardinge left India, his Government had not addressed any despatch on the subject to the Secretary of State.

Forward to