557
I will wil
FOBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
Reference
C.O.882/12
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO]
Br
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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What we have done in this connexion we are stating here for your information. Having an only son we had him educated and trained as well as we could, and had him nominated as our Crown Prince, and subsequently made the fact known to the Ceylon Government.
And if my beloved son is considered unsuitable to occupy the throne according to the custom and the usage of this country and according to Muhammadanism, I desire the next would-be occupant of my throne to be left to be chosen by the Ministers and the Nobles and the leaders of the people of the Maldive Islands after my death. If they find any suitable Prince from among the members of the Royal Family they will elect him. It seems to me this method of election is more in keeping with our con- ditions and that of our Sultanate. The Will of God will rule supreme.
We wish Your Excellency good health and all happiness both during your voyage and during your stay in South Africa.
Dated at the " Palace," Malé, Maldives,
19th Ramazan, 1349.
Corresponding to the 8th day of February, 1931.
YOUR HIGHNESS,
Enclosure 4 in No. 5.
At Sea, Malé, 6th March, 1931.
I HAVE received, through Your Highness' Prime Minister, a copy of Your Highness' letter dated 8th February, 1931, to Sir Herbert Stanley. I have also had the pleasure of discussing various matters with Your Highness on 5th March, and to-day, by the kind permission of Your Highness, I have had an interesting discussion with Your Highness' Ministers and with a number of prominent men among Your Highness' subjects.
2. In regard to the question of the succession to the throne, I fully sympathize with Your Highness' desire that your son should succeed, if he is not considered un- suitable in accordance with the custom of the country and of Islam.
At the same time it is a matter of considerable concern to me that the Crown Prince's health pre- vents him taking that part in public affairs which should be taken by one who is at present destined to become the ruler of the people, and I suggest that Your Highness should consider the propriety of sending the Crown Prince to India or to Ceylon for medical treatment.
3. In regard to the question of the system of administration prevailing in the Maldive Islands I would like in the first instance to assure Your Highness that I have been much impressed with the peace, good will, and contentment which appears to prevail, and I would wish further to make it clear that any criticism which I may venture to offer is not directed against the person of any of Your Highness' Ministers. I have heard nothing but praise of the capacity and ability of the Prime Minister and Treasurer, and it appears to me that the other officers of Your Highness' Government carry out their duties faithfully and well. At the same time I must confess that the present system does not appear, in so far as I could learn, to be fully in accordance with ancient custom; nor does it appear to me to be fully suited to the more modern conditions which result from the increase of commerce and the spread of education. I feel that it is unsound that financial responsibility should rest, to the extent to which it does, upon the shoulders of one man, however able and conscientious he may be, and it seems to me that a wider division of authority, coupled with a more corporate responsibility for matters of policy and finance, would be more conducive to good government. It appears to me that the present Ministers are too few in number, and that they occupy too subordinate a position in regard to the Prime Minister and Treasurer, who, indeed, seems to have duties and responsibilities greater than one man can properly undertake.
I venture to suggest, therefore, that Your Highness should constitute a regular Council of Ministers, who should be together responsible, under Your Highness, for T think it all questions of major policy, and in particular for questions of finance. advisable that the office of Prime Minister and Treasurer should be separated, and that all major financial questions should be discussed by the whole Council of Ministers. and not, as appears to be the case at present, decided on the sole authority of the Treasurer Without a greater knowledge of local conditions than I possess, it is of course impossible for me to give an authoritative view as to the number of Ministers
15
and the duties which should be allotted to each of them, but the following is a tentative suggestion as to the composition of the Council of Ministers :-
(1) Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs.
(2) Minister for Home Affairs and Public Works.
(3) Minister for Finance.
(4) Minister for Commerce (including Customs and Posts and Telegraph).
(5) Minister for Education and Health.
(6) Minister for Justice.
(7) Minister for Agriculture.
Minister for the Army.
(9) Minister of Court.
It appears to me that a body so constituted would be capable of giving Your Highness advice upon all important questions, and would be better able to deal with new problems than the present very limited number of officers.
4. Should Your Highness deem my suggestions, subject of course to suitable modifications, worthy of consideration, I suggest that Your Highness should, before my departure, issue a proclamation announcing that upon some future date, say three months hence, a Council of Ministers will be formed, the number of Ministers, the posts which they will fill, and the fact that they will be responsible as a body for financial policy, being stated in the proclamation. The selection of the individuals to fill the various posts, and the drawing up of detailed rules for their guidance, could take place during the next three months.
Assuring Your Highness of my best wishes for Your Highness's health and prosperity.
YOUR HIGHNESS,
I have, &c.,
B. H. BOURDILLON, Officer Administering the Government of Ceylon.
Enclosure 5 in No. 5.
At Sea, Malé, 7th March, 1931.
I VISITED the Prince this afternoon and received the message which Your High- aess sent me through him. In view of past circumstances I fear that the people would not now agree to the proclamation of your son as Crown Prince. But I have obtained an assurance from the Prime Minister that he will place no obstacle in the way of the Prince going to India for treatment. It appears to me better that he should go there now, and if after his return his health is better and he makes it clear to the people that he has abandoned the habits of which they disapproved in the past, I hope that they will then be willing to accept him as their Crown Prince.
In the meantime, before arrangements are made for him to go to India, I suggest that the Prince should show himself in public as much as possible, going to the mosque on Fridays and attending Your Highness on public occasions. The Prime Minister assures me that there is no objection whatever to this, and it appears to me that is would have a good effect on the minds of the people.
C. 83266/31 [No. 15).
I have, &c.,
B. H. BOURDILLON, Officer Administering the Government of Ceylon.
No. 6.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(Confidential.)
SIE,
*
Downing Street, 6th May, 1931. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Bourdillon's Confidential despatch of the 14th of March, reporting upon his visit to the Maldive Islands. I have read the despatch with interest. I shall be glad if you will convey to Mr. Bourdillon an expression of my appreciation of the able and tactful manner in which he conducted the negotiations.
* No. 5.