277
FIUTI I
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882/10
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NUT TO.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON!
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Enclosure 1 in No. 16.
(Received 9.53 p.m., 9th August, 1920.)
TELEGRAM.
D. B. JAYATILAKA, care of Repeater, London. Congress Committee resolution Ceylon, Namsonal [?National] Congress Committee has received the announce- ment in House Commons regarding proposed Ceylon reforms with deep disappoint- ment and dismay, shared alike by Ceylonese Press and public under guise of extending popular election and control. It seriously curtails powers of Legislative Council, increases autocratic powers of Governor, restricts freedom of discussion and control over executive, extends pernicious principle of racial representation, creates spial(?) representation and provides not even beginning of responsible government nor any check on excesses such as disgraced British administration in 1915. Congress proposals were made studiously moderate in hope of conciliating official feeling, and represent minimum demand that will satisfy the people. This has been rejected; people's faith in the Government has been shattered, influence of moderate men grievously impaired, and country exposed to evils of long and bitter agitation, unrest, and discontent. Congress Committee believes Lord Milner has been entirely misinformed as to local conditions and public opinion in Ceylon, and earnestly appeals to him and all British statesmen and the British people to amend reform scheme radically to include minimum Congress demand without any restriction of power now possessed by Legislative Council of free debate and of financial and other control over administration. Congress demands real and substantial majority in Legislative Council, wide franchise, elected Speaker, half Executive Council members to be selected from territorially elected M. L. Cs., and to have portfolios, and a Governor with Parliamentary experience. SecretarIES.
Enclosure 2 in No. 16.
(Received 11.40 p.m., 9th August, 1920.) TELEGRAM.
E. J. SAMARAWICKREME, care of Repeater, London. Committee of Ceylon National Association authorizes you to inform Secretary of State of intense dissatis- faction with proposed scheme of reform at inadequacy of representation, total denial of responsibility of executive to people, members being only advisory, and no ministerial, and on the deronation of unprecedented powers to Governor sup- pressing discussions. This association resents any scheme, but withholds power and responsibility, and claims first instalment of self-government long overdue. Protest against reforms. Inferior to India, and informed with spirit of suspicion and distrust. Association endorses Congress's demands.SANDERASEGERA, President.
38324
SIR,
No. 17.
COLONIAL OFFICE to CEYLON REFORM DEPUTATION. [Answered by No. 22.]
Downing Street, 17th August, 1920.
I AM directed by Viscount Milner to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd August,* on the subject of the proposed constitutional reforms in Ceylon.
2. I am to state that Lord Milner has decided to recommend to His Majesty the changes in the Constitution which have been announced in the House of Conimons, after the fullest consideration; and that, in view of the complexity of the issues involved, it is not possible to discuss at length the various points raised in your letter. He directs me, however, to make the following observations.
3. As regards the numbers of official and unofficial members of the reformed Council, I am to point out that there will be, in the first instance, 16 members
* No. 15.
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elected by the various constituencies, and that as soon as arrangements can be made the number will be increased to 19, out of a total unofficial vote of 23. Seeing that the official members only number 14, or including the Governor's original and casting votes, can command 16 votes, Lord Milner cannot accept your contention that the proposed changes will not give the people any measure of control over the Administration.
4. As regards your reference to nominated members, I am to point out that nominated members of the existing Legislative Council are by no means regarded as supporters of the Government, and the statement made in the House of Com- mons to the effect that nominated unofficial members shall not, in any event, be required to vote according to the direction of the Governor, was merely intended to express the existing practice. The present circumstances of Ceylon, in Lord Milner's opinion, make it impossible to provide for the application of the principle of popular election to the case of all communities, but the members nominated to represent these special communities cannot by any means be classed with the official members as you appear to argue.
5. As regards the special representation of the Kandyan community. I am amongst the Kandyans that their interests would not be sufficiently safeguarded if they were compelled to rely, for their representation in the Council, upon the to state that Lord Milner satisfied himself that there is at present a strong feeling members elected in the ordinary territorial constituencies. In the face of this strong feeling Lord Milner felt that the success of the reforms would be prejudiced if some special provision were not made at first for the representation of the Kandyan community, whose sympathies would otherwise be alienated. It is possible that, with the spread of political education amongst the Kandyans, this feeling will diminish or disappear, and, in that event, Lord Milner would hope that it would be possible to reconsider the question. Since the Kandyan community are given representation by no means disproportionate to their numbers, Lord Milner cannot believe that the interests of other communities are appreciably prejudiced by the arrangement.
6. As regards the changes in the Executive Council, Lord Milner is not pre- pared to fetter himself and his successors in the selection of the most suitable unofficial members of the Executive Council.
7. While Lord Milner does not consider it necessary to make any formal provision for the periodical revision of the Constitution, he recognizes that there can be no finality in such a matter; and he would contemplate that, after a reason- able interval, proposals for any amendment of the Ceylon Constitution, which experience has shown to be desirable, should be put forward and carefully examined.
I am. &c..
H. J. READ.
38660
(No. 666.)
SIR,
No. 18.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. [Answered by No. 27.]
Downing Street, 18th August, 1920.
I HAVE the honour to address you on the subject of the reform of the Consti- tution of Ceylon.
2. Since I received the seals of the Colonial Office this matter has engaged my serious attention. I have had the advantage of considering the memorials on the subject addressed to my predecessor and to myself by the Ceylon Reform League, the Ceylon National Association, the Ceylon National Congress, the Indian Association, and the European Association, and other societies and individuals in the Colony. I have also received two deputations from the Ceylon Reform League and National Association, as well as deputations from the Kandyan Association and the European Association. The deputations have placed their views before me with ability and moderation. There has naturally been considerable divergence in the views expressed by the separate deputations, and on certain points there was some difference in detail even between members of the same association:
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