284
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
CO. 882/10
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
BF
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON)
24625
62
No. 27.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Paraphrase.)
(Received 7.30 a.m., 18th May, 1921.)
TELEGRAM.
17TH MAY. Your despatch 18th August, 1920, No. 666.* I desire to recom- mend as unofficial members of Executive Council the following gentlemen :-- Mr. James Lochore. Past President of the Chamber of Commerce and one of the leading merchants in Colombo; Dr. Hilarion Marcus Fernando, whom I propose to nominate as the Sinhalese (?) member of the present Legislative Council, and who was a nominated member of the late Legislative Council; Sir Ambalavanar Kanagasabai, a Tamil, who has on more than one occasion sat as the Tamil nomi- nated member of the Legislative Council. These proposed appointments will carry out the idea of appointing a European Sinhalese and a Tamil member to the Executive Council. As nominated unofficial members of the Legislative Council I propose to appoint Mr. Ramanathan, late elected educated Ceylonese member of the Legislative Council, also Mr. Praibur Alvis, who is a burgher of standing in the community, and the above-mentioned Dr. Fernando.
For the Tamil seat of the Executive Council I should have liked to suggest Mr. Ramanathan, but I felt that demand on his time would be too great, and although I greatly value his advice and knowledge of affairs, I think his usefulness on the Executive Council would be marred by his prolixity. As you will observe. I do not propose to appoint a European unofficial member of the Legislative Council. mainly because I have not been able to find a suitable candidate, since it is evident that no little difficulty in putting forward suitable candidates for the existing European seats is being experienced by the European community. I should be glad if you would notify me of your approval of the proposals for the Executive Council. I propose nominating the nominated unofficial members and also Kandyan Mahom- medan and Indian members in the usual manner, subject to your approval. 7th June is the date of the first meeting of Legislative Council.-MANNING.
26947
No. 28.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 31st May, 1921.)
[Answered by No. 29.]
Ceylon, 10th May, 1921.
(No. 346.) SIR,
I HAVE the honour to transmit a letter, dated 4th April, 1921, which has been addressed to you by the Ceylon National Congress relative to a resolution passed by the Congress Committee urging that the appointment of unofficial members of the Executive Council may be deferred until the new constitution has been revised (see paragraph 12 of Viscount Milner's despatch No. 666, of the 18th August. 1920*). also attach a copy of a letter from the Congress, dated 20th April, in which the reasons for the request made in the resolution are set out.
16
"
2. I see no sufficient reason for postponing the appointment of unofficial members to the Executive Council. The statement in paragraph 3 of the second enclosure to this despatch, that such appointments would entail additional expenditure in the payment of salaries to these members is not understood, as no member of the Executive Council receives special remuneration for his services.
3. I would add that the other general statements made in the letter dated 20th April would appear to be due to an entire misconception of the functions of the Executive Council.
I have, &c..
W. H. MANNING,
Governor, &c.
63
Enclosure 1 in No. 28.
Ceylon National Congress,
20, Upper Chatham Street, Colombo, 4th April. 1921. UNOFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR,
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith, for your information and favourable consideration, the following resolution passed by the Ceylon National Congress Committee:-
The Ceylon National Congress Committee strongly urges His Excellency the Governor and the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies to defer the appointment of unofficial members to the Executive Council till after the revision of the Constitution proposed by His Excellency the Governor."
I remain, &c.,
A. MAHADEVA, Honorary Secretary. Ceylon National Congress. The Secretary of State for the Colonies,
Downing Street.
The Right Honourable
SIR.
Enclosure 2 in No. 28.
UNOFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
20th April, 1921.
WITH reference to your letter of the 12th instant, on the above subject, we beg to submit the reasons which led the Congress Committee to adopt the resolution urging His Excellency the Governor and the Secretary of State for the Colonies to defer the making of unofficial appointments to the Executive Council.
2. The life of the new Council is admittedly to be of short duration, and the Congress Committee thinks it eminently desirable that no appointments of unofficial members be made to the Executive Council until a pronouncement is made indi- cating the principles of the selection of such members to the Executive Council, the administrative duties to be carried out by them. and the relation which the Execu- tive Council is to bear to the Legislative Council and the control to be exercised by the Legislative Council over the Executive. These are points to which the Congress attaches very great importance, and both the Congress and the elected members are anxious for an opportunity to press their views on these matters when the Constitu tion is being revised, and before a final decision is arrived at.
3. Any unofficial appointments now made to the Executive Council would mean the prejudgment by the Government of these matters as well as the creation of claims on the part of those that may now be appointed. It would also entail, at a time of financial stringency, additional expenditure in the payment of salaries to these members without any corresponding advantage to the Colony. If it is a question of obtaining unofficial advice from outside the Legislative Council, that can still be obtained by His Excellency the Governor as hitherto and from a wide circle.
We remain, &c..
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary.
26947
E. T. DE SILVA, A. MAHADEVA,
Honorary Secretaries Ceylon National Congress.
No. 29.
(No. 468.)
SIR,
Downing Street, 30th June, 1921.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 846, of the 10th May.* enclosing copies of two letters from the Ceylon National Congress
* No. 18.
* No. 28.