96
is carried to a greater pitch of intensity. It is impossible, therefore, to absolve the movement entirely from the imputation of personal animus. In saying this I do not enquire whether any persons in Mauritius may or may not have just griefs against other persons. I merely assert that if personal animus is shown it is necessary to exercise some hesitation in accepting statements or proposals which obviously are neither disinterested or impartíal.
I do not at this moment give an opinion for or against an enquiry. I believe, as all must admit, that there are many matters in Mauritius needing reform, but I would prefer that the reform should come from the inside, not from the outside. But this is not to say that I consider that in no circumstances could an enquiry become necessary. On the contrary, I believe that under certain conditions it might be desirable or even necessary, but if such an enquiry becomes desirable or necessary it should only be appointed to meet a public interest or a public necessity, and should be independent of all questions of local animosity, local feeling, or local ambitions.
I presume it is unnecessary for me to comment on the proposal to thrust on the planters a loan for which they have ceased to ask, and I will merely add that whilst do not deny that conditions may arise which may compel His Majesty's Govern- ment to appoint a Commission, could not recommend that such a Commission should be appointed in response to the present agitation.
1st August, 1908.
DEAR SIR GRAHAM BOWER,
Enclosure 3 in No. 79.
G. B.
Le Réduit, 23 April, 1908. If you wish to speak on the question before the Council of Government to-day you can of course do so, but, as the Official Members of the Council are allowed to use their discretion in voting on any resolution which may be the outcome of the discussion, your observations must be confined to the expression of your personal opinion solely.
DEAR SIR CAVENDISH BOYLE,
Enclosure 4 in No. 79.
Yours faithfully,
CAVENDISH BOYLE.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Mauritius, 23 April, 1908.
I THANK you for your note of to-day and quite understand that I can only speak as a private member and in my personal capacity.
From a conversation I have had with you I understand that I am not free to propose a resolution myself, and that it would not be proper for me to do so though I can express my views as to the sort of resolution I could support if moved by some private member.
Believe me, &c.,
GRAHAM BOWER.
•
97
the attitude of my Government will be, unless you otherwise instruct me, that consideration of the whole question has been reserved by your Lordship.
With regard to your instructions as to economies, every endeavour is being made to give effect to them.-BOYLE.
35075
No. 81.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(Sent 6 p.m., 28 September, 1908.) TELEGRAM.
[Answered by Nos. 85 and 86.]
Referring to your telegram of 25 September,* I cannot accept statement that I have reserved the consideration of the question. Attitude of His Majesty's Government towards it has been clearly indicated in telegrams and despatches of my predecessor and myself. Official members of Council should be allowed to vote on the motion as they think desirable in the interests of the Colony.—Crewe.
37866
(No. 266.) MY LORD,
No. 82.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received October 17, 1908.)
Government House, Port Louis, 5th September, 1908. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch, No. 134, of the 23rd of July, which, with certain connected papers, has been presented to the Council of Government in continuation of the previous correspon- dence already published on the subject of the proposed loan to planters and advances in aid to the sugar estates, and with reference to the question of inviting the appointment of a Commission of Enquiry. For convenience of reference I append copies of the latest printed papers so presented.
2. In transmitting, under, cover of my despatch No. 108,§ the text of the resolutions passed at the meeting of the Chamber of Agriculture on the 8th of April, the terms of which were communicated in my telegram of the 11th of that month, I was not in a position to furnish your Lordship with an authentic account of the proceedings, as the Chamber did not at the time supply me with any record of the same, nor, indeed, has that been done since then. I regret if, by the absence of newspaper reports of the meeting from the enclosures in my despatch under reference, any inconvenience has been caused.
3. I take this opportunity of inviting attention to the numbering of the para- graphs in the despatch under acknowledgment. There is no paragraph 5. The omission, however, was not noticed here until the papers had been presented to the Council.
35075
No. 80.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 6.37 p.m., 25 September, 1908.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 81,]
Dr. Laurent has given notice of a motion in the Council of Government for the 29th of September to the effect that in view of the financial position of the Govern- ment, the time has arrived to request the appointment of the Commission of Enquiry suggested by your predecessor.
In view of your despatch of 23rd July,* and your telegram of 4th September, t
↑ No. 74.'!.
• No. 65.
I have, &c.,
CAVENDISH BOYLE.
34037
SIR,
No. 89.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE ACTING GOVERNOR. [Answered by No. 93.] (Confidential.)
Downing Street, 30 October, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir C. Boyle's confidential despatch of the 28th of July¶ with regard to the loan made last February to the Commercial Bank.
No. 80. ↑ No. 65. ‡ Nos. 55, 57, 60, 63, 65, and 66.
No. 55. | No. 46. No. 77.
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