87
42
and women passing on the road as well as coming to their boutiques. If action is taken on these lines, not only will the trade, unity, and mutual love of the Sinhalese grow, but a good lesson can be taught to the Moor. If any one were to say these things cannot be done he too might be a Moor, but could not be a Sinhalese. On account of certain laws which, on certain occasions, have been enacted by Government for the ill of the Sinhalese, there have come into being a unity and an excitement among the Sinhalese, and their bonds of common interest are strengthening. If, at the same time, this molestation from the Moors leads to excitement and further growth of the unity of the Sinhalese we will accept it as a blessing come (to us) on account of the Moor. If our priests and the leaders of the temperance societies were at any time to act as here respectfully suggested, I beg that the same may be communicated to the Press for the information of the public and for the growth of their zeal.
fionagala,
Induruwa.
87322
To this effect,
W. D. A. GUNATILAKA.
No. 36.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 1.15 p.m., 13th August, 1915.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 37.]
may REFERRING to my telegram of 3rd August, in cipher, by which mail expect to receive Order in Council? One month's notice of action has already been given against the members of the court martial who tried the case to which I referred in my telegram of 22nd July.†-CHALMERS.
37322
No. 37.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(Paraphrase.)
(Sent 2.55 p.m., 14th August, 1915.)
TELEGRAM.
I
14TH AUGUST, 1915.--Sealed copy Order in Council referred to in your tele- gram of the 13th August sent by mail 13th August, and by next mail there follow six other copies.—BONAR LAW.
37674
No. 38.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 12.55 p.m., 15th August, 1915.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 39.]
15TH AUGUST.-I have gratefully to acknowledge your cipher telegram of 14th August. Please inform me of date of Order in Council. Does it follow the wording of my draft of that Order, particularly in my paragraphs 1 and 4!— CHALMERS.
37674
No. 39.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR
(Paraphrase.)
(Sent 12 45 p.m., 17th August, 1915.)
TELEGRAM.
WITH reference to your cipher telegram of 15th August,* date of Order in Council is 12th August. It follows closely wording of your cipher telegram of
3rd August.† Only slight verbal alterations in paragraph 1. In paragraph 4 the word "confirmed" is followed by words to the effect that all persons tried by such courts and confined in any prisons or other legal places of confinement in the Colony by virtue of such sentences shall continue liable to confinement there or elsewhere, as the Governor may direct, until the expiration of the sentences respectively passed upon them or until their discharge by lawful authority: such sentences to be deemed to be sentences passed by duly and legally constituted courts of the Colony, and to be carried out or otherwise dealt with in the same manner as the sentences of duly constituted courts of law of the Colony. 17th August.--Bonar Law.
38690
SIR,
No. 40.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 20th August, 1915.)
[Copy to India Office and War Office, 9th September, 1915. L.F.F.} (Confidential (C).)
The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 31st July, 1915. In continuation of my Confidential despatch of the 22nd July, I have the honour to forward, for your information, the following local reports with regard to the riots :-
(i) A copy of a report from the Government Agent, Southern Province. (ii) A copy of a report from the Assistant Government Agent, Matara. (iii) An extract from the diaries of the Government Agent, North- Western Province, for May and June.
(iv) An Extract from the diary of the Assistant Government Agent, Puttalam, for June.
2. I enclose a copy of a joint memorial addressed to me by two Buddhist High Priests on the subject of the riots, and of the reply which I caused to be returned to them.
3. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your cipher telegram of the 24th July,§ with regard to the status of civilians under military law.
4. Adverting to the third paragraph of my Confidential despatch of 8th July,|| I take this opportunity of stating that it will still be a month from now before the August peraberas are over, and before I can hope to ascertain the total amount of compensation payable to Mohammedans as a result of the detailed investigations which Special Commissioners are conducting from village to village throughout the 'five Provinces affected by the riots. As soon as I am in a position to deal with the matter on a final instead of a merely provisional basis I will at once proceed to address you in conformity with the wishes expressed in your telegram of 2nd July.
I have, &c.,
ROBERT CHALMERS,
Governor, &c.
No. 11 in [Cd. 8167]. ↑ No. 24.
✰ No. 86.
I No. 87.
* No. 88.
+ No. 11 in [Cd. 8167].
# No. 84.
§ No. 27.
|| No. 28.
No. 10.
F 2
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882/10
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO