270
The same view appears to have been
taken by the Colonial Defence Committee,
Whom
the off of thi
the were responsible for the drafting of the
was submitter for approval
Order in Council of 1895. On November 13th,
1894, Major Peacocke, Secretary of the Committee,
submitted a memorandun on the Ceylon Defence
Scheme which contained the following
observations:-
"There was no intention on the
part of the Colonial Defence Committee to
suggest that the Governor should in the
smallest degree be superseded by the General
Officer Commanding. Such a suggestion would
have been entirely outside their province.
3
The Civil power must be superme,
superme the Governor,
on his part, giving the fullest support to
the General Officer Commanding, who is his
professional adviser and executive officer in
all matters relating to the defence of his
Colony."
While in a memorandum dated the 24th of
(Ceylon/No.10)
DRAFT.
11/94 Ceylon Secret
October, 1894, dealing also with the
Ceylon Scheme Major Peacocke stated
X
the views of the Committee as follows:-
"The Committee can see nothing in
paragraph (22) of their memorandum,
No.46, of the 3rd May, 1893, which even
implies that the General Officer Command-
ing is to acquire and exercise the
special powers to which General Justice
refers in his letter. The only refer-
ence therein to the acquisition of any
special powers by the General Officer
Commanding is merely "such as are
required for securing sites for works,
occupation of buildings, requisitioning
of supplies and transport" all these
being minor measures which directly
concern the military action of the
General Officer Commanding in war time
and for the due execution of which it is
manifest
Uctober