Letter from Sir James Fergusson (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for India) to Lawrence
Scope & Content:
Corrects statement (made in Commons during interregnum between Cranborne and Northcote) misreported by Times that Govt of India had sent commercial mission to central Asia; Cranborne resigned over reform question.
His difficulties on taking office; opposes prohibition on export of grain from Orissa, but suggests Govt should buy what cultivators wish to export; is considering terms of loan to Irrigation Company.
Cranborne's statement in Parliament on Mysore case at variance with previous policy and made without consulting his Council, and Northcote may have to pass despatch over majority in Council; Northcote's own views on Mysore which differ in some respects from Cranborne's.
Attacks on Lawrence not very serious; sorry to hear of India's deficit; Cranborne foolish to leave Mysore question open till adopted heir comes of age; glad to see Lawrence is going up to Simla again.
India Office has heard virtually nothing about proposed merger of Banks of Bengal and Bombay, but is constantly being questioned about it by shareholders and others; gives outline of despatch on Mysore to which he hopes his Council will agree, and which he feels is conclusive against pretensions ...
Acknowledges Lawrence's letter of 9 March; has not yet had time to study Indian budget, but believes loans for public works should be paid off within limited number of years, and that interest and sinking fund on loans should be more than covered by revenue; Licence tax seems to let off richest c...
Lord Stanley and he think Burmese Embassy should be allowed to proceed to avoid giving offence to Emperor of French; asks for appreciation of Burmese affairs in general, and gives a few thoughts of his own; has had 'serious battle' in Council over Mysore despatch and has overruled majority; defen...