§ Mr. GARDNERasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any treaties or other obligations exist between His Majesty's Government as the paramount Power and any of the Indian States, providing for the protection of a feudatory by the British Government from the rebellion of his subjects against misrule or oppression?
§ Earl WINTERTONI hope that the hon. Member will excuse me from making a statement on this subject at the present moment, when the relationship between the paramount Power and the States is under investigation by the Indian States Committee.
§ Mr. GARDNERasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the representatives of the peoples of the Indian States have been refused permission either to hear the arguments of the counsel for the Indian princes or to give evidence before the Committee; and whether he will inform the House of the reasons for this course, in view of the fact that there are treaty obligations by which the Indian princes have agreed to secure the contentment of their peoples and to ensure justice in administration?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe procedure to be adopted in regard to the taking and hearing of evidence is a matter for the Committee itself and my Noble Friend is not prepared to interfere with their discretion.
§ Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Report of the Indian States inquiry will be submitted to the Government of India or to His Majesty's Government; whether the Report and the evidence given before the Committee will be published; and whether the recommendations of the Committee concerning the economic and financial relations between the Government of India and the States will be placed before the Indian legislature for its consideration and opinion?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe Report of the Committee will be submitted to the Secretary of State. I am not at present in a position to make any statement in regard to the other matters mentioned in this question.