198
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
C.O. 882/10
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
62100
30
No. 24.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(Paraphrase.)
(Sent 3.15 pm., 30th December, 1918.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 26.]
TELEGRAMS* have been received by me from Ceylon National Conference quoting resolutions on the subject of constitutional reforms, and reporting that delegates have been appointed to proceed to England. I shall be glad to receive your views on the subject, and any suggestions you may desire to make as to how delegates should be received if they are sent.-LONG.
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No. 25.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (No. 643.) SIR,
Downing Street, 31st December, 1918. I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have received from the Ceylon National Conference held at Colombo on the 13th and 14th December, and from Sir P. Arunachalam, its President, messages* tendering loyal homage to His Majesty the King, and joyful congratulations at the success of the British and Allied arms.
2. By His Majesty's command I request that you will cause to be conveyed to Sir P. Arunachalam and to the Ceylon National Association an expression of His Majesty's appreciation of their loyal messages.
I have, &c.,
WALTER H. LONG.
331
No. 26.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 8.35 p.m., 31st December, 1918.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
31ST DECEMBER. Your cipher telegram 30th December.† A motion to the effect that I should report my views as to constitutional reforms without delay was introduced into Legislative Council. Mover of the resolution was informed by me before the meeting of Legislative Council that Government would oppose his motion, as I was not prepared to report upon the subject until I had been able to discuss matter with all races, classes, and creeds, and had studied the question, but that his motion would be accepted by Government if the words "without delay were omitted.
The words were omitted, and the motion was passed, and I replied briefly that, until I had been able to discuss and study the subject as above, I was not prepared to make any report thereon. Matter is too important to be dealt with hurriedly, and I am not yet prepared to make any final report. But I am sending a letter to Sir George Fiddes by next mail, in which certain proposals as to preliminary discussion are set out. During next few weeks I shall hope to get some useful views from several deputations which I have to meet. Some reso- lutions are being forwarded to you, I believe, by the Ceylon National Conference. They do not represent, as they profess to do, views of any considerable section of the people, and they are extreme in their demands. It is doubtful if the delegates proceed to England as the finances of the Conference are low; but if they do, I would suggest that they should be informed that, until I have had an opportunity
*No. 28; and 62052, not printed.
↑ No. 24.
No. 28.
31
to discuss matter fully with all races, classes, and creeds, I am not prepared to make my final recommendations, but that I am forwarding to you certain pro posals for consideration in connexion with a step in advance for constitutional reform, and that in such an important matter considerable time must of necessity be required to formulate a scheme suitable to conditions existing here, and that my final report will probably not be forthcoming for a considerable time yet.→ MANNING.
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No. 27.
SIR W. H. MANNING (GoverNOR) to SIR GEORGE FIDDES (COLONIAL OFFICE).
(Extract.)
MY DEAR FIDDES,
(Received 3rd February, 1919.)
King's Pavilion, Kandy, 31st December, 1918.
*
*
THE two important questions now are reform and rice. As regards reform, a Mr. Ramanathan introduced a motion into Legislative Council that I should 'without delay" send in a report to the Secretary of State embodying my views as to reform. He came to see me on the matter, and I told him that his motion would be opposed by Government.
However, certain individuals will no doubt continue to badger the Secretary of State in the House of Commons that reforms are demanded, and I could not deny that they were demanded, so it is possibly best to accept that they are; and with safeguards they will do but little harm at first, and, possibly, some good in the future.
I have, however, much to learn, and I hope to gain experience in the next few months before committing myself to a finality.
.
Just before closing this letter I received a telegram from the Secretary of State re the delegates said to be going from Ceylon, on behalf of the Ceylon National Conference, and I have replied, giving the gist of my remarks here. It is a question of cash, and I doubt if there is much forthcoming, and it seems doubtful if there will be sufficient to pay passages out and home and to support the delegates while in England.
I have shown this letter to Stubbs, and I have asked him to critize my pro- posals, since naturally he has a much longer and closer experience to guide him in forming a conclusion than I have. I know that there are difficulties in con- nexion with the Kandyan member, and it may be necessary to revert to nomina- tion on the elected side to fill the vacancy.
The few lines have, I fear, expanded themselves into a lengthy letter, but I think it well to place you in possession of some information at first quite unofficially for your criticien, rather than to wait until I could with greater assurance write officially at a later date. It will also stave off the importunities of those who are trying to hurry things, if they can be informed that the matter is now under discus- sion but that no decision is likely to be reached for a considerable time yet.
Believe me, &c.,
C 2
W. H. MANNING.