Oral Answers to Questions — Afghanistan. – in the House of Commons at on 6 February 1929.
Mr Shapurji Saklatvala
, Battersea North
asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how long and in what capacity did Amir Habibulla, one of the claimants to the Afghan throne, serve in the British-Indian Army; and how long was he resident in Peshawar within the British frontier?
Mr Godfrey Locker-Lampson
, Wood Green
I have been asked to reply. So far as I am aware the Amir Habibulla has never served in any capacity in the Indian Army. He is reported to have lived at Peshawar for some three years.
Mr Shapurji Saklatvala
, Battersea North
May I take it that the report which has been published here quite widely that he was a havildar in one of the British Indian regiments is entirely groundless?
Mr Godfrey Locker-Lampson
, Wood Green
Yes, Sir.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
