427
42
fore, earnestly begs that the quite arbitrary and artificial dinerentiation between the two classes of Tamils residing in the Western Province be removed in any arrangements made for the election of a member for the Western Province Tamil
Respectfully submitting the above for the favourable consideration of Govern-
Beat.
ment,
I beg leave, &c.,
The Indian Association of Ceylon.
A. S. JOHN, Honorary Secretary
49933
No. 35.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Confidential.)
SIR,
Downing Street, 19th September, 1923. SINCE I wrote my despatch of the 6th August, on the subject of the special Tamil seat in Colombo and the Western Province in connexion with the proposals for the reform of the constitution of Ceylon, I have received from you several communications embodying the views of the Tamil leaders and of certain Tamil Associations, from which I gather that there is little prospect of the proposal contained in my despatch proving acceptable.
2. In these circumstances, while for the reasons explained in my despatch of the 6th August I regret that no compromise has been found possible, I have no option but to put into effect the proposal discussed in the fourth paragraph of my despatch of the 18th of June, and steps will accordingly be taken to include in the forthcoming Order in Council provision for a special Tamil seat in Colombo and the Western Province.
3. It is not my intention that this seat should remain a permanent feature of the constitution, and the question will be reconsidered at the next revision of the constitution, or after five years' time from the date of the Order-in-Council.
4. I recognize that the creation of this special seat will be very unacceptable to the Sinhalese, leaders, and in deference to their representations, I have felt it necessary to reduce to some extent the gross inequality in the distribution of seats between the Tamil and the Sinhalese Provinces. This is especially marked in the case of the Southern Province with its population of 671,000 which under present proposals would be represented by only two members. Province into three constituencies, being the districts of Galle, Matura and I propose to divide the Hambantota, to each of which one member will be allotted.
5. The case of the Western Province has already been met by the grant of an additional seat in Colombo town, to which I gave approval in my despatch of the 18th June.t
6. I recognize that even now the distribution of seats is open to criticism; but it is in any event essential to the proper representation of minorities that the allocation of seats should not strictly follow numerical preponderance; and until a full register of qualified voters has been in existence for some years, the representation proper to different areas can only be settled on a provisional basis.
7. I await the recommendations which I understand you are submitting‡ with regard to Clause 52 of the draft Order in Council, but when your proposals have been received and considered His Majesty will be invited to approve of the issue of an Order in Council for the reform of the Constitution of Ceylon on the lines settled in my correspondence with you.
• No. 19.
I have, &c.,
DEVONSHIRE.
No. 1 in Cmd. 2062. * See No. 89,
47007
43
No. 36.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Confidential.)
MY LORD DUKE,
(Received 24th September, 1923.)
[Answered by No. 43.]
The Queen's Cottage, Nuwara Eliya, 3rd September, 1923. WITH reference to your Confidential despatch of the 6th August. 1923, it is, of course, unfortunate that the Tamil community, which is, in my opinion, the best educated and the most progressive community in the Island, failed to recognize the importance of sending delegates to the Secretary of State to urge their own case, though, as you are aware, they have sent in many memorials setting out their views.
2. I can, consequently, quite understand that, in their absence, the arguments addressed by the delegates of the Ceylon National Congress must, of necessity, have carried great weight.
3. I think, however, the outstanding fact remains, and should not be lost sight of, that the reason for the secession of the Tamils from the Ceylon National Congress was the refusal of the National Congress to accept the proposal for a communal Tamil seat for Colombo and the Western Province, though at one time this seat had been conceded by two of their leaders, and the repudiation of this pact led to the withdrawal of the Tamils, who attributed bad faith to the Congress
leaders.
4. I do not assign to the Ceylon National Congress that importance which they desire to arrogate to themselves. Their numbers have dwindled, the extravagance of their demands, combined with an equal extravagance of language, has alienated those who might have followed them in a more moderate frame of mind. This party is, however, without doubt, the most clamant, and I have no doubt will continue in this rôle. I do not conceal from myself the fact that their leaders have the means wherewith to pay for themselves and for their adherents the expenses of a journey to England and back, and for their maintenance in England, which is, of course, as I have stated, greatly to their advantage in pursuing their aims. It seems also probable that they control the Ceylon daily morning Press, published in English, or, say, two out of three of those publications, another factor much to their advantage.
+
5. All these considerations, however, do not, and should not cloud the issue that is under review, since whatever the delegates of the Ceylon National Congress may concede in England as to the cessation of further agitation as to Political Reforms, I and my advisers are equally of opinion that they are giving an under- taking which, however desirous and willing they themselves may be to honour, the Extremists in Ceylon would hardly be likely to carry out.
6. I have endeavoured to explain that this question of the Tamil Communal seat for Colombo and the Western Province is one of the vital issues on which the adherence of the communities to the present Reform proposals rests, and that it is the outstanding stipulation which the Tamil community makes; and I have expressed as clearly as I can their reasons for asking for this seat, as they themselves have likewise done on several occasions.
7. There is no doubt but that, as between the Tamils and the Ceylon National Congress, the strongest feelings prevail and with some good reason, since the language of the latter, used both on the platform and in the Congress organs of the Press, has been such as to merit this feeling on the part of the Tamils, with whose condemnation of such tactics I concur.
8. I am of opinion that such is the position to-day, that should you decide either to modify the conditions of this Tamil seat or to abandon the proposal, the Tamils would, without doubt,, claim that the Ceylon National Congress, by their constant vilification and disparagement of the Tamil claims in Ceylon and by their advantageous position in England, had succeeded in obtaining a surrender of the most vital claim of the Tamils for their representation in the Legislative Council. I should not only deeply regret that such a mortification should be suffered by them,
* No. 19.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
Co. 882/10
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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