AFFAIRS OF THE MALDIVE ISLANDS.
Correspondence 1930 1933.
p. 78317/30 [No. 1].
No. 1.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 28th April, 1930.)
(Confidential.)
MY LORD,
2
3
Queen's House, Colombo, 9th April, 1930.
I HAVE the honour to transmit, for Your Lordship's information, a copy of a minute written by me regarding an interview which I gave to the Prime Minister of the Maldive Islands, on the 7th April, in connexion with various matters affecting that Dependency.
550
1930
1 Governor, Ceylon.
Conti-
dential
9th April (Rec. 28th April)
1931
Transmits copy of a report of an interview with the Prime Minister of the Maldive Islands regarding various matters affecting the Dependency
1
2
Governor, Ceylon, Telegram
No. 10. Confidential
16th January (Rec. 16th January)
3
To Governor, Ceylon.
gram No. 18. dential
Tele- Confi- 31st January
Suggests that Mr. Bourdillon may be allowed to visit the Maldive Islands to advise, at the request of the local Maldivian representative, on questions of Royal succession, Constitution, &c., and also requests that Admiralty be asked to provide one of His Majesty's ships for transport facilities
States, in reply to No. 2, that visit is approved
4 Governor, Ceylon. dential (2)
Confi-
6th January (Rec. 26th January)
5 The Officer Administering the Government, Ceylon. Confidential
14th March (Rec. 6th April)
...
6 To Governor, Ceylon. Con-
dential
7 Governor, Ceylon.
8
dential
6th May
States, with reference to No. 1 that the question of sending an official to the Islands, in order to assist in the solution of the difficulties arising out of the question of the eventual succession to the Sultanate, is under consideration and transmits a memorandum by the Maldivian representatives in Ceylon giving a resumé of the politics and personalities in the Islands Reports upon his visit to the Maldive Islands and upon matters discussed with the authorities there, espe- cially those relating to the question of Royal succes- sion and future form of Government ...
Acknowledges No. 5, and suggests that it might be desirable as a general policy to encourage the Mal- divian leaders to resort to Ceylon for medical and educational facilities and cognate purposes...
3
15
Confi-
12th October (Rec. 2nd November)
Forwards copy of a translation of a draft Constitutional
document, providing for a new Constitution for the Laland, upon which he has been invited to comment, together with a copy of a letter to the Sultan transmitting his observations thereon Acknowledges No. 7
16
25
21st November
1932
9
Governor, Ceylon.
dential
Confi- 15th February (Rec. 17th March)
_
To the Governor, Ceylon.
Confidential
10 To Governor, Ceylon. Con-
fidential
•
dential ...
With reference to No. 5, states that reform of the Maldive Constitution has so far been successfully opposed by the Maldivian Prime Minister and encloses copy of correspondence with the Sultan regarding proposal to loan a British Officer to advise upon necessary reform measures
...
25
9th May
Acknowledges No. 9, sete out reasons for deprecating loan of à British adviser to the Maldive Islands, and requests that proposal may be reconsidered...
27
Transmits a translation of the new Constitution of the Maldive Islands which was promulgated on 22nd December, 1932, and of translations of the Sultan's address from the Throne and of the reply thereto...
29
11 Governor, Ceylon.
1933 Confi- 31st January (Rec. 20th February)
12 Governor, Ceylon. Confi-
dentin!
5th May (Rec. 29th May)
19th September (Rec. 9th October)
14 The Officer Administering the Government, Ceylon. Telegram No. 195. Secret
15th November (Rec. 16th November)
Recounts aventa leading to the introduction of the revised Constitution and resignation of the late Prime Minister
Reports that dispute has arison between the Maldivian Government and the Indian Borah merchants of Colombo, upon whom the inhabitants depend for their rice supply, and gives details of steps being taken in the Islands to preserve order and reach a settlement
States that two refugee Ministers have reported that the Ministers' Government has been superseded but there is nothing to suggest that the Sultan is in danger or that serious disorders exist
13 Governor. Ceylon. Confi-
dential
41
43
46
W
Enclosure in No. 1.
I have, &c.,
II. J. STANLEY,
Governor.
BEPORT ON AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN SIE H. J. STANLEY AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE MALDIVE ISLANDS.
THE Prime Minister of the Maldive Islands came to see me this morning, to say good-bye prior to his departure on his return to Malé. He was accompanied by his brother, Mr. Didi, the Maldivian representative here, who intérpreted.
Since his last visit to me he had travelled extensively in the Middle East (Egypt, Iraq, &c.), and he said that the letter (or letters) given him by this Government had been very helpful to him.
could
After various compliments of the usual kind (including messages to and from the Sultan) he said that he wished me to know that the Sultan's only son would not, in spite of his father's wishes, be allowed to succeed to the throne when his father died. He (the son) had some years ago been declared "disinherited" from the succession according to Muslim law. His habits of life had disqualified him both in law and in fact. One of the definite grounds of disqualification was that he had become the father of an illegitimate son. When a Sultan died, his successor was elected by the people at Malé (including some of the chief residents of other Islands). So far as ascertain by a series of questions, the process of election appears to be by show of hands at a sort of mass meeting outside the Palace. Succession to the throne, he said, was in virtue of such election, not by right of birth, though the late Sovereign's eldest son would, if not admittedly unsuitable or disqualified, be elected as a matter of course. If the eldest son were unsuitable, some other son or near relative of the late Sovereign would normally be elected. In the present instance the Sultan's son would not be elected. Whether the Sultan's brother (who has lived in India for some years, is married to an Indian wife and is little known in the Islands) would be elected, the Prime Minister expressed himself quite unable to foresee. "There appeared to be nothing against him, but it was impossible to say whether or not he would be elected."! If no one were elected as Sultan, Muslim law provided that a Council of Regency should be elected, and that such a Council would function until a suitable person were elected as Sultan. The method of electing the Council' appeared, so far as I could make out. to be the same as the method of electing a Sultan. There was no reason, the Prime Minister said, to anticipate any disorder in connexion with the succession. The Maldivians were a peaceable, docile people. No action on my part was necessary or desirable at present. He was only telling me what the position was, because he knew that the Maldivians had a friend and well-wisher in me, as well, of course, as in His Majesty's Government.
The impression which I formed was that he was disposed to favour a Council of Regency in preference to the election of the Sultan's brother, as the immediate sequel to the Sultan's death, with a view perhaps to letting the Sultan's brother prove himself by service on the Council of Regency-but he did not say so in terms.
The only other point of importance to which he referred was the question of education in the Maldives. He said that on his return he proposed to use every effort
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
441.C.O.882/12
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON
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