§ Mr. Whiteasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether His Majesty's Government are satisfied that their policy with regard to constitutional changes initiated by rulers of Indian States adequately safeguards the continued fulfilment by rulers of their obligations to the Paramount Power?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadThe policy indicated in the reply on 16th December to my hon. Friend, the Member for Kidderminster (Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne) is not to be taken as implying that the Paramount Power would recognise a Ruler as having endowed any constitutional body which he may create with a greater degree of authority than that which he himself is recognised as possessing. No State would be regarded as relieved of its 3013W obligations to the Paramount Power by the fact that its Ruler had divested himself of the control necessary to discharge them, and the Paramount Power would remain free to take such steps as might be required to ensure their fulfilment.