253
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
FITIUU
CO. 882/10
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Borisl No.
From or to whom.
Despatch No., &c.
Data.
1920
23 To Mr. E. J.
Samarawickrame
iii
Subject
|Paga.
September 20 Replies to the observations in No. 22, $5
and states that the Secretary of State can hold out no hope of recon- sidering the scheme until some practical experience has been obtained of its working.
24
The Governor
Confidential September 27
(Rec. Oct. 21)
25
Ditto
Confidential December 2
(Rec. Dec. 23)
States that he clearly understands the 55
position as set out in No. 20 and will endeavour to frame Government proposals in such a manner as to have support of Unofficial Members of the Executive Council when such proposals are submitted to them in the Legislative Council.
Submite, with observations, resolu- tions passed by the Ceylon National Congress on Constitutional Reform.
55
96
To the Governor
1921
Confidential) January 81
87
The Governor
Telegram
May 17 (Rec. May 18)
28
Ditto
846
May 10 (Rec. May 81)
29 To the Governor
46A
June 30
Requests that the writers of the letter 61
enclosed in No. 25 may be informed that it has been received.
Recommends as Unofficial Member of the Executive Council Mr. J. Loohore, Dr. H. M. Fernando, and Bir A. Kanagasabai, nnd as Nomi- nated Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council proposes to appoint Mr. Ramanathan, Mr. P. Alvis, and Dr. H. M. Fernando.
ཆུ
68
Transmits letters from the Ceylon 62
National Congress relative to a reso- lution urging that the appointment of Unofficial Members of the Executive Council may be deferred until the revision of the new Con- stitution; remarks that he sees no sufficient reason for postponing these appointments.
Requests, with reference to No. 28, that the Ceylon National Congress may be informed that the appoint- ment of Unofficial Members of the Executive Council is a reform which has long been advocated and has already been adopted in many other Colonies, and that the Secretary of State saw no reason to defer these appointments pending the revision of the new Constitution.
69
80
The Governor
425
June 14 (Reo. July 6)
Reports the formal opening of the Legislative Council on the 7th June, and submits names of Official and Unofficial Members for His Majesty's approval.
64
DEO09).
Wt. 14855 789. 30. 10/21. J. J. K. & Co., Ltd.
20457
CEYLON.
CORRESPONDENCE [April, 1920 to July, 1921]
RELATING TO THE
ADMINISTRATION
OF CEYLON.
No 1.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 22nd April, 1920.)
(No. 254.) MY LORD,
Ceylon, 30th March, 1920. WITH reference to Mr. Long's despatch No. 666, of the 31st December, 1917," relative to a memorial addressed by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to Sir John Anderson in August, 1917,† urging the necessity for more adequate recognition and representation of mercantile interests in the Legislative Council, I have the honour to state that the Chamber of Commerce was duly informed of Mr. Long's decision as conveyed in paragraph 2 of his despatch under reference.
2. I now transmit a further memorial, dated 4th March, 1920, which has been addressed to you by the Chamber of Commerce on the same subject, I have caused the memorialists to be informed that their memorial has been duly forwarded to you, and that the recommendations contained therein are receiving the careful considera- tion of the Government.
3. I would at the same time invite reference to Sir William Manning's despatch No. 316, of the 17th May, 1919, on the subject of the proposed constitutional reforms.
I have, &c.,
GRAEME THOMSON, Officer Administering the Government.
Enclosure in No. 1.
THE MEMORIAL OF THE CEYLON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.
The Right Honourable Viscount Milner,
His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies.
May IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,
1. THE Chairman and Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce desire at this time, when alterations to the constitution of the Colony are engaging the serious attention of yourself and your advisers, to urge upon your Lordship the very serious disadvantages under which the commercial and financial interests of the island labour through lack of representation in the Legislative Council.
2. Your Lordship is doubtless aware of the memorials§ previously submitted on this subject, copies of which I enclose for your convenience.
3. Matters of vital importance to the mercantile interests of the island fre quently arise for the consideration of the Government of the Colony and for dis- cussion in the Legislative Council, the unofficial members of which at present consist of five lawyers, one doctor of medicine, one planter, two retired Government officers, and one newspaper editor, while the official members have necessarily no first-hand knowledge of trade or finance other than that obtained in the routine work of Government departments. The Government and the mercantile community
No. 5 in Eastern No. 129.
+ Enclosure in No. 4 in Eastern No. 129. No. 30 in Eastern No. 129,
§ Enclosure in No. 4 in Eastern No 139 and enclosure 1 in No. 12 in (Od. 5427. '.