-4-
Aden should be considered.
7.
(b) Mauritius.
Mr. Reid
In view of the new constitution which came into
force in 1948, in which there is a large unofficial
majority in the Legislative Council, and the much smaller
degree of integration of the various racial communities that
exists at present in comparison with Zanzibar, Mr. Ingrams
expressed the view that it would be necessary to wait
longer before devolving further responsibility.
felt that there should be the outline of a plan into which
colonial territories could be fitted. He did not advocate
the traditional British empirical way. The weakness of the
resent position - but it was common to all Crown Colony
governments at a certain stage was that the elected
members formed a permanent opposition. An opposition that
would be irresponsible, it was suggested, until it was
given responsibility. Doubt was expressed whether there
was, at present, sufficient racial integration to permit
of the separation of the constitutional functions of
government from the executive on the lines suggested by
Sir Charles Jeffries in S.T.C. (49) 16.. Mr. Ingrams
thought that it might be possible, in time, to establish
a local "President" somewhat equivalent to the Sultan in
Zanzibar, except that he would represent the King. He also
thought that, in a place the size of Mauritius, there was
room for the development of local government side by side
with the Legislative Council.
•
8. A practical point raised was whether, in a plural
society of this kind where interests were largely communal,
His Majesty's Government could act as arbiter between the
various groups whilst, at the same time, handing over a
/large
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