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88
Governor endorses the request favourably it will be granted by the Secretary of State, and the cause of discontent may be removed in time.
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary,
Colombo.
I beg, &c.,
I. X. PEREIRA,
President.
No. 73.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(No. 338.)
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 312 of
Downing Street, 10th June, 1924. the 8th of May,* forwarding a copy of correspondence with the Ceylon Indian Electorate Association relating to Resolutions passed at a public meeting of Indians in Colombo on the 16th of March, and to inform you that I concur in the terms of your reply to the Association.
I have, &c.,
J. H. THOMAS.
446
RESOLUTIONS passed AT THE PROTEST MEETING OF INDIANS HELD AT THE LORENZ COLLEGE HALL, COLOMBO, ON SUNDAY THE 16TH MARCH, 1924.
Resolution I.—That this meeting of Indians in Ceylon records its deep sense of gratitude to His Excellency the Governor for reserving two Seats in the Reformed Legislative Council for Indians resident in Ceylon and for providing for the filling of these two Seats by election.
Resolution II. That as the inclusion in the Order in Council of only English, Sinhalese and Tamil as conferring the literacy qualification for the franchise excluding the other Indian languages, particularly Guzerati and Malayalam, deprives the benefit of the franchise to a large number of Indians, this meeting requests that the Secretary of State for Colonies be pleased to provide that literacy in any Indian language shall be sufficient qualification for the franchise.
Resolution III-That this meeting is strongly of opinion that the provision in Rule 22 (2) of Schedule II of the Order in Council, that in the case of the Indian Electorate the elector may give a vote to each one of the two candidates whom he prefers or may only vote for one candidate and give two votes for such candidate is highly objectionable and subversive of the very object of election and detrimental to the best interests of the Community, and therefore requests that the Government be pleased to take immediate steps to have the Order in Council amended so that an elector may not give both his votes to any one candidate.
28418
(No. 379.)
No. 74.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 18th June, 1924.)
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 187 of the
Ceylon, 28th May, 1924. 2nd April, 1924,† with which you transmitted a copy of a telegramt from Mr. D. Nusserwanjee, of Colombo, regarding a Resolution passed at a public meeting of Indians in Colombo on the 16th March last.
2. The Resolution referred to is the second of the three Resolutions which were passed at the meeting and form the subject of my despatch No. 312 of the 8th May, 1924, and its enclosures; reference to this is requested.
3. This Government fully agrees with the remarks contained in paragraph 3 of your despatch under reference. At the same time I would mention that it is proposed, when the forthcoming elections are over, to appoint a Committee to consider the definition of the term "Indian," and this Committee will possibly deal with the question of the language qualification.
I have caused the sender of the telegram to be reminded that the proper channel of communication of such matters is the Governor of the Colony.
SIR,
Enclosure 2 in No. 72.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, 30th April, 1924.
I AM directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 21st March, 1924, forwarding certain resolutions passed at a public meeting of Indians on the 15th idem in connexion with the new Order in Council.
2. In reply, I am to inform you as regards Resolution II, that, by inclusion in the Communal Electorate, Indians are given the right also to vote in the Territorial Electorates, and it is, therefore, considered essential that they should possess a knowledge of the Sinhalese, Tamil, or English languages which are the only means by which they can obtain acquaintance with the affairs of this Colony.
3. His Excellency has, therefore, decided after careful consideration in Executive Council that there should be no change in the literacy qualification of Indians.
4. With reference to Resolution III, I am to inform you that the matter bas been most carefully considered; but the principle contained in Rule 22 (2) of Schedule II of the Order in Council, to which exception is taken, has been applied in the case of the Muhammedan and Burgher Electorates also, and no objections have been received from them. His Excellency the Governor in Council does not consider that it is desirable to amend the provision contained in the rule in question.
I am, &c.,
L. A. NORTHCROFT,
for Colonial Secretary.
38037
(No. 520.)
No. 75.
I have, o.,
W. H. MANNING,
Governor, &c.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 11th August, 1924.)
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to transmit a memorial, dated 5th July, 1924, which has
Ceylon, 24th July, 1924. been addressed to you by H. Moulana Saiyed Hussainee, of Colombo, praying that one of the two Indian seats in the new Legislative Council may be reserved for Indian Moslems.
2. I would point out that, as in the case of the Malay community referred to in my despatch No. 301 of the 30th April last§ and connected correspondence, the present memorial confuses racial and religious representation. I recommend that the memorialist be informed that you see no reason to accede to his request.
I have, &c..
W. H. MANNING,
Governor, &c.
The President,
The Ceylon Indian Electorate Association.
* No. 72.
↑ No. 68.
‡ No. 60.
§ No. 71.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Jo k k k k k
Reference :-
C.O. 882/10
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