§ Viscount CURZONasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a speech reported to have been made by the Viceroy of India at Peshawar on 6th April, wherein he is reported to have said that he took the fullest responsibility for the despatch of 7th March, that he fully appreciated its effect from the international standpoint, that his sole object was that consideration might be given to Moslem aspirations, which he had so far regarded as just, equitable, and reasonable: and whether His Majesty's Government have any statement to make?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI think my Noble Friend has seen only a very imperfect account of the Viceroy's speech. What he said was that his "Government's desire was to obtain consideration of Indian Moslem aspirations, and fulfilment in so far as they were considered just, equitable562W and reasonable." His Majesty's Government see nothing to criticise in this statement—indeed, it exactly describes their own position, though, of course, there are other factors in this complex problem of which they have to take account. I will print the passage dealing with this subject in full in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
The following is the passage referred to:
As regards the revision of the Treaty of Sevres, I have, as you are aware, let no opportunity pass of placing before His Majesty's Government the demands made by responsible Moslem opinion in India, and of urging that the fullest consideration should be given to their sentiments in the settlement of these problems. I shall not fail to convey to Mr. Montagu your regret at his resignation and your expressions of appreciation and gratitude for his efforts on behalf of the Moslems of India. My own views have already been publicly stated. I deeply value the tribute paid by you, the representatives of a pre-eminently Mahommedan Province renowned as a stronghold of Islamic tradition, to my endeavours to help the Moslems of India. In the trouble which the Great War brought in its train for them, I have always cherished it as my privilege, and recognised it as my patent duty to impress the views of responsible Moslem opinion in India upon His Majesty's Government. I am now fully acquainted with the views of His Majesty's Government upon recent events, and I am sure you will be glad to know that no questions have arisen between His Majesty's Government and me, as Viceroy, or my Government, regarding the propriety of either my own or my Government's action in this or in any respect. Let me say that I take the fullest responsibility for the telegram sent, not only because I am head of the Government of India, but because the proposal originated with me. I have also had it at heart to allay by open statement of our action, wherever this was practicable, any misgivings which Moslems in India may have felt as to the steps taken to bring their views to notice in the proper quarter. The sole object my Government had in view in desiring to publish the telegram was to acquaint those interested in India with the action taken by the Government of India; but, inasmuch as I fully appreciated that publication might affect the international situation, we requested the assent of His Majesty's Government. Here again no question has arisen between us regarding this action. His Majesty's Government have declared that not only was my Government entitled to keep them in England acquainted with Moslem sentiments and to impress them as forcibly as we could, but also that my Government acted with constitutional propriety in requesting His Majesty's Government's assent to publication, and, through the proper channel of communication, i.e. the Secretary of State. My Government's desire was to obtain consideration of Indian Moslem aspirations, and fulfilment, in so far as they were con- 563W sidered just, equitable, and reasonable. His Majesty's Government have made plain that Mr. Montagu's resignation has not affected their policy, either in regard to the Treaty of Peace or to the Reforms or otherwise. They have already stated that they will not fail to give due weight and full consideration to the representations made by the Moslems of India, in so far as these are compatible with justice and their obligations to their Allies and other nations. I trust that the difficult question is now approaching a solution, and that peace in the Near East may soon be brought about. I am confident that, when the final history of these negotiations comes to be written, its pages will leave no doubt that Great Britain has been guided by that desire of justice for and sympathy with the Moslem elements in the British Empire which has been a traditional feature of her policy.