asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government of India to submit proposals to the Legislative Assembly for carrying out the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Labour with regard to standing machinery for settling railway disputes; and if the All-India Railwaymen's Federation will be taken into consultation before such proposals are submitted for legislative enactment?

My latest information in regard to the recommendations referred to is that they are still under the consideration of the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give the number of Indian prisoners convicted of political crimes now in the Andaman Islands; what are the minimum and maximum sentences covered by the transportation orders; and what is the minimum age of the prisoners?

As regards the ordinary convict population of the islands, the latest detailed statistics are summarised on page 117 of Command Paper No. 4109. The great majority of the convicts are serving long sentences for crimes of violence, but there is no indication whether in any particular instances political motives were involved. As regards the transfer to the Andamans of prisoners convicted in connection with terrorist outrages, which was decided upon last year as a special measure, the present position is that about 100 terrorist convicts, mostly from Bengal, have been transferred. I have no detailed information as to ages or sentences.

Would it not be possible to get the age of the younger prisoners?

I should think so. Anyhow, I will communicate with the Government of India and let the hon. Member know.

asked the Secretary of State for India, whether he will direct the Government of India to offer their co-operation to the proposed census of the unemployed in India to be carried out by unemployed graduates and undergraduates in the Punjab?

The matter is not one in which I should wish to interfere with the discretion of the Government of India.

Would it not be advisable to ascertain whether they will co-operate? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think he might communicate with the Government of India and try to use his influence?

I hesitate to trouble the Government of India with a number of inquiries about details which seem to me to come so much under their special purview. Of course, if the hon. Member presses me, I will try to obtain the information, but I should have thought it was just the kind of question we had better leave to the local administration.

As the question of Indian unemployment reflects itself in our own unemployment, ought we not to think at least sympathetically about the census figures?

If the hon. Member presses me, I will ask for further information.

Is it not a fact that there is really no basis for getting the figures of unemployment in India on the same lines as in this country?

Yes, that is so.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether Leslie Hutchinson has given notice of appeal against his four years' sentence in connection with the Meerut trials; and does this sentence take into account the four years he has already been in prison or is it additional?

All the prisoners have appealed, and the sentences in all cases run from the date of judgment, that is from 16th January. It is not the case that Hutchinson has already been in prison for four years as he was granted bail during the latter part of the trial.

Is it at present illegal to be a Communist in India?

I should not like to be drawn into a general answer of that kind.

asked the Secretary of State for India what action the Government of India propose to take, in view of the representations made to them from the Government of Madras, with regard to an amendment of the Indian Trusts Act, so as to declare the debentures of the Madras Co-operative Central Land Mortgage Bank trustee securities?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India will consider the advisability of holding an inquiry with a view to enabling, or inducing, Indian insurance companies to take up the debentures of land mortgage banks as suitable long-term investments?

The views of the Government of India were stated by their Finance Member in the Legislative Assembly on the 1st March. His speech will be found on pages 1416–1420 of the Proceedings of the Assembly, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Members for Gower (Mr. D. Grenfell) and Westhoughton (Mr. R. Davies).

asked the Secretary of State for India the present position with regard to the rate war now going on between indigenous and foreign shipping companies engaged in the Indian coasting trade; and what steps the Government of India propose to take in the matter?

I have reason to believe that an understanding has been reached between the parties concerned and that there is now no rate war going on such as the hon. Member has in mind.

Is it not the case that the so-called foreign shipping companies are really indigenous in the sense that, they alone have created the whole Indian coastal traffic?

I expect the hon. Gentleman is quite correct in the comment which he has made. Anyhow, as far as I understand, an agreement has now been reached which, I hope, will put an end to a controversy which has lasted for several years.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps the Government of India propose to take in view of the representations received from the Indian Mining Federation with reference to the use of Indian coal by the cotton textile industry as a condition of the renewal of supplementary protection?

I have no information. It is not a matter in which I should wish to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that the Government of India has prohibited the importation into India of the History of the Russian Revolution, by Leon Trotsky; and whether he can state the reasons for that action?

I have no information on the point.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps the Government of India propose to take with regard to new emigration laws enforced by the State of Panama in so far as they affect edversely Indian firms established in the State?

I have not heard whether the Government of India propose to take any action in the matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many copies of Proposals for Indian Constitutional Reform, Cmd. 4268, have been sold to date; and whether, in view of the importance of this document, he will consider the advisability of reducing the sale price?

The number of copies of Proposals for Indian Constitutional Reform, Cmd. 4268, that have been sold to date is 2,200. The sale price was fixed at 2s. under the pricing scale for Government publications. It is undesirable to vary the pricing scale in favour of particular documents whatever their importance, and I see no sufficient reason for varying it in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for India, why the question of the import duties on British textiles into India was not included in the Ottawa Agreements; and if he will state the present position?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the report of the Indian Delegation. The reason why they could not deal with British cotton piece goods at Ottawa is explained in paragraph 29. At the time of the Ottawa Conference the duties on these goods were under reference to the Tariff Board, and it was considered that any modification of them must be postponed until the Board had reported. The present position is that the Government of India are considering the report of the Tariff Board. The extent to which other classes of British textiles are dealt with in the Ottawa Agreement can be seen by reference to Articles 10 and 11 of the Agreement, Items 141–150 of Schedule "F," and Schedule "G."

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider making joint representations to Japan voluntarily to reduce their dumped imports into India before public opinion in both countries demands the cancellation of the Japanese trade agreement?

The Government of India is very much alive to the urgency of the question. I will only say that in the last day or two a Bill dealing with some aspects of the question has been introduced into the Indian Assembly. But the hon. and gallant Gentleman may rest assured that we have the point of view that he has expressed very much in mind.

May we take it that the Government of India, in considering the report of the Tariff Board, will bear in mind the Lancashire textile industry?

Yes, certainly. It is a question that is never out of the mind of either the Government of India or the British Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give a list of cases in which default has occurred by the Soviet Government on any of its contractual engagements to British nationals in the last five years?

I have been asked to reply. The only case of a failure on the part of the Soviet Government to meet its contractual obligations to British nationals during the last five years that has been brought to my notice, is that of the Lena Goldfields.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the Indian Government having devised an anti-dumping measure against Japanese imports, what steps he proposes to take with the object of carrying out the same measure in the other parts of the Empire that may be concerned?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend on 28th March.

In view of the importance of this subject, will the hon. Member accelerate proceedings so that the dumping may be stopped?

As the hon. Member is aware, the subject is a complicated one and important conferences are being held with representatives of the trade to see what steps can be taken in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he intends to take with regard to representations which have been made to him by the Australian Minister in London as to the delay caused to the survey of the London-Australia air route by the failure of the Dutch and Portuguese Governments to give permission for Anglo-Australian mail aeroplanes to land on their territories?

In reply to requests addressed to them, the Portuguese Government have accorded permission and all facilities for the preliminary survey of the route, and the Netherlands. Government have requested the Netherlands East India Government to grant similar facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the national aviation services in China are under American and German control; and what steps have been taken to secure similar privileges for British interests?

I am aware that two corporations have been formed, by agreements between a United States and a German company, respectively, and the Chinese Government, for the purpose of operating certain Chinese national air services. All proper assistance will of course be given to any British undertaking desirous of entering this field.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is no private flying allowed in China and that all the flying is under the national service, and that therefore it is entirely in the hands of American and German operators?

I have just answered that all proper assistance will be given to all-British undertakings as far as it can be done.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any report from the British Minister in China upon the representations submitted by British aircraft manufacturers in favour of the appointment of a special aviation attaché to promote the use of British aircraft in China; and what action it is proposed to take?

I have received a recommendation from His Majesty's Minister that an air attaché should be appointed to His Majesty's Legation, and the matter is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the warnings issued by the Ross Institute and the Institute of Micro-Biology regarding the danger of diseases such as yellow fever being introduced into this country by mosquitoes in aeroplanes; and what steps he is taking in the matter?

Yes, Sir. Carriage in aeroplanes of the infection of yellow fever has been carefully considered for several years by the International Office of Public Health and its Yellow Fever Commission. Proposals for dealing with this danger, and with other infectious diseases, are embodied in an International Sanitary Convention for Aerial Navigation which awaits ratification. My right hon. Friend is advised that the danger referred to by my hon. Friend does not apply to this country, but to countries where yellow fever could develop if introduced.

Is it not possible for yellow fever to be conveyed by these means?

The danger is extremely remote. I am informed that the Imperial Airways Service have two breaks, and the new machine starts from Paris minus mosquitoes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inquire of the Chinese Government whether any of the proceeds of the British share of the Boxer Indemnity have yet been devoted to educational endowments in China, and, in particular, whether the interest on unexpended capital sums in the hands of the London Purchasing Commission is credited to the Board of Trustees for educational purposes?

According to the latest report issued by the Board of Trustees, covering the period January-June, 1932, copies of which have been placed in the Library of this House, the proceeds of the loans made by the board to productive enterprises have not yet amounted to a sum sufficient to enable grants to be made to the educational and other institutions which have made application for funds. I am having inquiries made in respect of the period subsequent to that covered by the above report. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The interest, however, together with the capital, is available for the purchase of material in the United Kingdom, and, in accordance with the Indemnity Agreement of 1930, money so expended is to be treated as a loan from the Board of Trustees to the enterprise which benefits from it, and will eventually be applied to educational purposes.

Is it not the case that the United States have given up about a fifth of the sum which the British taxpayer has given up, and have already secured a lasting memorial of their good will and sacrifice in the shape of a Peking University? Cannot the Government secure some similar monument to mark the generosity of the British taxpayer?

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for mentioning the matter, and I will look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the Chinese Government in favour of restricting advances to Chinese railways out of the British share of the Boxer Indemnity to such railways as have made definite arrangements for the liquidation of past loans?

The question of advances to Chinese railways is one for the discretion of the Board of Trustees. In the agreement of September, 1930, printed in Command Paper 3715, the Chinese Government stated their intention so far as rehabilitation of existing lines was concerned, of giving prior attention to those lines in which British financial interest has been particularly concerned. My hon. Friend will realise that the rehabilitation and completion of existing railways will tend to increase the revenues from the railways in question, and so improve the position of the bondholders of loans already secured on them. The policy which he suggests might, I think, have the contrary effect.

Is it not the case that some of these grants are being given to railway concerns which are making no effort to pay off past loans?

That is not my information. The hon. Gentleman's suggestion might make it impossible for a particular railway to receive an advance for revenue-producing expenditure without which the revenues might well continue to remain insufficient to meet normal expenditure.

asked the, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any information as to the proposed loan of £4,000,000 to the Chinese Ministry of Railways by the board of trustees of the British Boxer Indemnity Funds, for the completion of the Hankow-Canton Railway; what security is offered for the repayment of interest and amortisation on the loan; and whether such security includes revenues which would otherwise be available for the payment of arrears on loans to Chinese railways?

I have received no official information, but my attention has been drawn to Chinese Press reports of the loan referred to, according to which the security approved by the board of trustees consists of the following: the net profit on one section and the gross profit of the other section of the Kwangtung portion of the Canton-Hankow Railway, together with the entire revenue of the surcharge on the passenger and freight transportation of the various Chinese Government railways.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any recent report from the British Consulate-General at Canton regarding negotiations with the Chinese authorities there upon the subject of the retrocession of the Kowloon territory; and, if so, what action does the Government propose to take with regard to this question?

No such report has been received. The answer to the second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the failure of British firms to obtain a. proportionate share of the contracts involved in the construction of the League of Nations buildings at Geneva; that the specification for the electrical installation required certain of the equipment to be the products of certain German and Swiss firms and that these firms refuse to supply this equipment to British contractors, so that it is impossible for British contractors to tender for this installation; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I am aware that the contracts for the new buildings at Geneva have not been awarded to firms of different nationality on the basis of the amount annually contributed to the expenses of the League by the various countries. As regards the second part of the question, I am informed that in the allocation of contracts no discrimination has been made between firms on grounds of nationality and that nothing prejudicial to British firms has been intentionally incorporated in the specifications. As to the particular case referred to, I am prepared to make further inquiries.

Has my right hon. Friend studied the documents which I handed to his private secretary, and do not these show that the contract for the electrical installation specified certain German and Swiss goods, and, as the firms that make these goods have declined to supply them to British firms, is it not the case that British firms are thus debarred from quoting for the electrical installation?

In the last sentence of the original answer I said that in the particular case referred to I am prepared to make further inquiries.

Will it be possible to supply the names of those who have obtained the contracts?

I believe the names are available. The question has to do with the calling for competitive tenders and with a British firm that is anxious to tender.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether any steps are taken to prevent contracts being given to those nations who are in arrear with their subscriptions?

I can only speak as far as my information goes from the Committee of the League of Nations. I believe there is an impartial committee on which there is a British member which deals with the whole of these matters, but I do not believe that in allocating the contracts any regard is paid to the amount contributed or not contributed to the expenses of the League by different countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether action to protect the Jewish minority in Upper Silesia is to be taken by the League of Nations under Article 11 of the Covenant; and whether, seeing that the right of the said Jewish minority to full equality is guaranteed under Articles 68 and 69 of the German-Polish Convention of 1922, which was communicated to the League, he will make a statement on the matter?

As the right hon. Gentleman is no doubt aware, the Council of the League has laid It down that the procedure under Article 11 of the Covenant should not normally be employed in cases relating to the protection of minorities under the Treaties, and—I am quoting now—

"should only be invoked in grave cases which produce the feeling that facts exist which might effectively menace the maintenance of peace between nations."

If action is taken, either under Article 11 or under the Polish-German Treaty, by any party, will that action be made public, and is not the present situation between Poland and Germany sufficiently grave to make it desirable that such action should be taken?

I do not know very precisely the form which the procedure would take, but I think that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman might be assured that, if action were taken under Article 11 to bring the question before the League, the matter would be public.

In view of the fact that a considerable amount of anxiety is at present prevailing with regard to the position of 600,000 Jewish people in Germany, could not the right hon. Gentleman see his way to consider whether this question could not be raised by himself or by somebody in conjunction with him?

The whole subject of the position of Jews in Germany is one which is receiving a, great deal of public attention, and, as I have already informed the House, I am myself already making inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the mandates given to Japan over various Pacific Islands, formerly German possessions, were contingent upon Japan remaining a member of the League of Nations, this matter is to be discussed at Geneva; and what the standpoint of the British delegates will be?

Japan's notice of withdrawal from the League does not take effect for two years. I have no information of any intention to discuss the question of her mandates at Geneva. I am not at present in a position to define the standpoint which the delegates of His Majesty's Government will adopt if such a discussion eventually takes place. Nor can I express an opinion on the correctness of the statement contained in the question.

Is not the action of Japan in ignoring the decisions of the League tantamount to a withdrawal and the forfeiting of the rights of membership of the League?

My hon. Friend will appreciate that what has happened is that notice has been given of withdrawal, and, by the terms of the constitution of the League, that notice operates in two years' time. The effect of withdrawal, when it takes place, on the position is an extremely complex question, upon which, I have said, I do not feel that I can express an opinion now.

Will Japan go on paying during the two years?

I must not venture to prophesy, but every member of the League, as long as the State is a member of the League, is under the obligation to pay the appropriate contributions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the case of Mr. Geoffrey Fraser, a British subject, who was arrested in Berlin on 4th April by Nazi auxiliary police; whether Mr. Fraser is still under arrest; whether any charge has been formulated against him; whether the British ambassador in Berlin has been allowed to see him; and what action the British Government is taking in the matter?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he can as yet state the charges made against the two Englishmen arrested in Germany?

My information is that Mr. Fraser was arrested under the instructions of the police authorities, by regular police officers, and that, as was stated in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Limehouse (Mr. Attlee) on Tuesday last, he has been detained in the police headquarters in the Alexanderplatz. The police authorities have informed His Majesty's Consul in Berlin that Mr. Fraser is charged with having committed acts in preparation for high treason; and that he is to be transferred to the Moabit prison to await his trial. His Majesty's Ambassador has requested the German Minister for Foreign Affairs to furnish him at an early date with more precise information regarding the charge against Mr. Fraser. As regards Mr. Catchpool, he was released on the day following his arrest. I do not understand that any charge has been brought against him.

Will the Foreign Secretary make a protest to the German Government against making these frivolous and fantastic accusations against a British subject?

I am not in a position to say whether the charges are fantastic.

Is the right hon. Gentleman content to make polite inquiries and not take any further action in the matter?

I hope that I have taken the action the House would wish me to take.

Will the right hon. Gentleman remember, in any representations which he is making about the persecution of Jews in Germany, that the persecution of Liberals is just as bad and far less vocally represented?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it was with his authority that the Metropolitan Police ordered the withdrawal of Jewish posters calling for a boycott of Germany and German goods on account of the treatment of Jews in Germany, and, if so, will he state the reasons?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that, in view of the feeling likely to be caused by the display of posters advocating a boycott of Germany and German goods, and of the possibility of breaches of the peace being caused, police officers advised the removal of the notices as a precautionary measure and in the interests of the shopkeepers themselves. I am further informed that there is no foundation for the suggestion that orders were given by the police for the removal of the posters or that proceedings were threatened for failure to comply. The police would be failing in their duty to the public if they did not take all steps in their power, whether by advice or otherwise, to guard against breaches of the peace, and no authority from me was given or was required for the action which was taken. I feel sure that the House will agree as to the undesirability of any action being taken at the present juncture by members of the public which might be likely to inflame feeling.

Are we to understand from the Home Secretary that he has information of physical force being threatened by anti-Semitic organisations of this country?

All I can say is that the police used their discretion. These things may occur; and they used their discretion, I think rightly, in the matter.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say from what quarter breaches of the peace were likely to arise?

The right hon. Member knows, and the House knows, that these disturbances may take place, and all that the police did was to say that it was preferable to withdraw the posters.

Have we not all protested?

May I ask whether the police have any grounds for thinking that there were likely to be any disturbances of the peace?

I imagine they have; otherwise, they would not have taken this course in the interests of the public.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how any grounds for thinking that there were likely to be any disturbances can have arisen, seeing that these posters have been exhibited for some two weeks without the slightest interference?

I am not aware of that fact. All I can say is that my attention was not drawn to this matter until this morning. I have made inquiries. I was not aware that these posters have been exhibited for some time. I have given the House all the information I have.

In view of these facts, will the right hon. Gentleman withdraw the order?

There is no order; the matter is left perfectly open.

Is it not the case that the Jews Are in a great minority and that, therefore, we ought to be scrupulously fair?

There is no question of unfairness. All that was done was to give certain advice which was believed to be in their own interests.

May I ask whether any German representations have been made to the right hon. Gentleman?

The answer to that is "No."

May I ask whether it can be understood by Jews that they may now exhibit such posters?

If they choose to do so, they are perfectly entitled. Of course they may.

Will my right hon. Friend make it clear that it is his intention, and the intention of the Government, to allow all reasonable expressions of free opinion upon this matter to be made in this country?

Certainly; there is no doubt about it.

Has the Home Secretary seen one of these posters in the windows? Is he aware that they are simple statements of fact, that no German agents need apply, and that that is all there is in it?

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the report to the Admiralty upon the successful results of the tests of rope made from Empire fibre, he will insist upon the use of such rope in all future Post Office work?

My hon. and gallant Friend presumably refers to the report which states that the results of trials of Sisal fibre are sufficiently promising to warrant its partial adoption by the Admiralty so long as supplies can be obtained at satisfactory prices. I propose to follow the same line, and to have regard also to cost and suitability to the conditions in which the rope will be used.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that letters posted in London at 3 p.m. are not delivered in Saul, Gloucestershire, until the second post on the following day; and whether he will take steps to improve this service?

Letters incorrectly addressed to Saul, Gloucestershire, and posted in London at 3 p.m. are not delivered until the second post the following day, but, so far as I am aware, no instances have occurred where letters bearing the correct address, "Saul, Gloucester," have not been delivered until the second post.

asked the Postmaster-General how many women telephonists have accepted employment until 11 p.m.; how many men are working as part-time telephonists with no other Post Office employment; how many men are working an 87-hour week; and whether he will hold an inquiry into the conditions of night work with a view to the up-grading of part-time trained telephonists?

Since I made an appeal a short time ago to women telephonists to volunteer for evening employment, some 70 in London have volunteered and next week a number will, I hope, commence such duties at one of the London exchanges. This number will, I hope, be augmented when it is more fully realised that my object is to improve the night telephone service in accordance with the experience of all other telephone administrations, that no man who is dependent for his livelihood upon the Post Office will be adversely affected, and that there will be various advantages to those women telephonists who undertake such duties. The number of part-time night telephonists in London with no other Post Office employment is 874, but a considerable number of them have other whole-time employment. The number of men who attend for 87 hours is 4; these men are only employed at small exchanges where they are able to obtain a reasonable amount of sleep during their attendance. I am keeping the conditions of night work under constant observation with a view to the creation of full-time appointments where justified.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to extend the policy of averaging postal rates so as to make profitable services pay for the non-profitable, in order to cover air mail services, or, if not, will he state what obstacles exist to prevent this being done?

The charges to the public for the use of each air service or group or air services are fixed at the lowest possible point and there are no profits available which could be used to set off unremunerative rates. Owing to the wide disparity in the costs of air conveyance it is not practicable to adopt an average rate.