331
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PERNIC.O.882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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The abuse of the Government official thus became a familiar phenomenon. In the Council, in the sessions of the Finance Committee, on the public platform and in the Press, attack followed attack and criticism was heaped on criticism. Policy was too frequently discussed in terms of personalities and the discussion carried at times beyond the bounds of what was courteous or decent. The imputation of doubtful motives accompanied disagreement with particular action; and allegations of all sorts were made against those who had little opportunity for reply. Though the Heads of Departments were naturally the worst sufferers, no class or grade of public officer was exempt from these painful experiences. Instead therefore of receiving that co-operation from elected members for which they might reasonably have looked, public officers found that under the new régime they must expect their endeavours to be met by ill-informed obstruction, their decisions to be greeted by personal dis- paragement. Never had they stood in greater need of support by a strong Executive. Page 126.
The manner in which the Government has found itself impelled to work the Con- While we do not think it necessary stitution has, however, left them without support. further to discuss here the policy it adopted of going to the utmost limits of conciliation in dealing with the unofficial members or the alternative policy it might have followed of adhering to its considered proposals and of resisting interference with the ad- ministrative work of its officers, even at the risk of provoking a crisis, we feel bound to point out that the line of action pursued, which had to these officers the appearance of surrender to every opponent and was perhaps insufficiently explained to them, left them bewildered and disheartened.
Page 127.
Not even a feeling of security in their own positions is now vouchsafed to them. The cost of living in Ceylon is very high, and most European officers have wives to consider and children to educate, while many have homes to maintain in Great Britain as well as in Ceylon. Their salaries and allowances, though by no means niggardly, are barely adequate to their needs. And yet they cannot help but recall that these very salaries were but a few years ago the subject of acute political controversy and were only passed by the Council after the Governor had made it clear that he would use his powers of certification in the event of continued opposition. There is now a fresh tendency to question salaries and allowances, but owing to changes in the Constitution made in the interval, the whole trend of Government policy has been altered, and public officers are uncertain of the extent to which they will be supported. A resolution for the reduction of the Civil Service vote by Rs.5/- was carried in Council last year, and though this was doubtless intended as a vote of censure on the Govern- ment rather than as an attack on the Services, the latter have the uneasy feeling that what may be Rs.5/- one year may be Rs.50,000 next year and Rs.500,000 at any time in the future. Moreover, a Select Committee of the Legislative Council, to which reference will be made later, has recently been appointed to review the salaries of Government officials and even the cadres of Government Departments; unwieldy and ill-equipped for a task of such magnitude and complexity, which could be satis- factorily handled only by experts, its appointment has been sufficient to arouse serious anxiety throughout the Ceylon Services. Finally, the precarious nature of the passage concession deprives many officers of the certainty of being able to proceed on leave of absence in their turn, and the consideration recently shown to the criticisms of the Finance Committee on proposals dealing with pensions and death gratuities already approved by the Secretary of State and in force in other quarters of the Empire, has, rightly or wrongly, induced the fear that even their pension rights may become subject to the caprice of the Council
C. 53429 28 1 [No. 9].
No. 11.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received, Part 1, 9.40 p.m., 26th September, 1928, Part 2, 12.10 a.m., 27th September, 1928.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 13.]
26TH SEPTEMBER. Secret. Your telegram of 24th September Secret.* Instruc- tions given by me to Colonial Secretary as to the attitude of Official Members in the Constitutional debate were precisely on the lines indicated, and will be strictly observed. * C. 53429/28/1 [No. 8]: not printed.
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1 have considered carefully whether 1 can preside over the debate. For and against seemed closely balanced. After consulting my most senior officials and a few unofficials privately, I have decided not to preside. I could not be of appreciable assistance to the Council without giving some lead on substantive points, and I am moreover apprehensive of the effect on the mind of the Government of India if, with me in the chair, injudicious things not out of order but distasteful to that Goverment should be said.
So far as I can gauge the trend of thought at present position in general terins is as follows. Local opinion, with exception perhaps of unofficial Europeans, has been hardening against the Commission's proposals. Muslims and Burghers dislike abolition of communal representation. Upper classes of Ceylon Tamils rather apprehensive, especially of enfranchisement of depressed classes (and) women. Ramanathan, who however represents mainly himself, desires rejection of the whole scheme. Committee generally unpopular with unofficials, except possibly Europeans, and with senior officials. Latter seem to regard it as unduly expensive and likely to prove unwork- able without inordinate delays and difficulties between heads of departments and ministers, but they recognise that it is inseparable from the Commission's scheme. Acquiescence of low country Sinhalese governing class in manhood suffrage attribut- able to electoral considerations rather than conviction. Sinhalese feeling generally very strong against enfranchisement of Indian immigrants on anything like terms of equality. This causes me some concern, as I am anxious to avoid trouble with the Government of India, and exacerbation of racial antagonism here. Five years residential qualification recommended by the Commission is of little practical value owing to difficulty of identification and absence of reliable evidence of residence. Possible solution which has occurred to me is to make electoral qualification of non- Ceylonese at the option of the applicant either five years' residence proved by docu- mentary evidence or residence of six or twelve months plus property or income qualification plus literary qualification on present lines. Latter alternative would meet the needs of Europeans. Former would in practice apply mainly to Indians.-First part ends. Second part follows.
Part 2. The documentary evidence contemplated would be a voluntarily taken- out certificate of identity and residence with finger prints. Such certificate would be produced to, and certified by, responsible officer at intervals of six or twelve months. No charge to be made for the original certificate or subsequent certification. When the certificate showed five years' residence holder would be entitled to registration on electoral roll. During the first five years of this arrangement present system of special representation of Indians by two nominated members would he retained, two of the twelve nominated seats being reserved for them. Please telegraph whether this sugges- tion sufficiently acceptable to you to justify me in sounding unofficials tentatively and informally. I shall be away on visit to the Maldives from 29th September to 4th October.
Debate in Legislative Council not likely to prove very (group omitted) or illumina- tive, some whittling of the Governor's reserve powers almost certain to be asked for, and strong protest against proposed salary commission and removal of public service administration from local control may be expected. But my impression is that on these and other points except possibly Indian franchise members and country will be prepared to swallow a good deal anore than it would be thought politic to avow so long as the onus of decision and responsibility for it are yours. As to this, however, I may be in a better position to advise after debate than at present.
My personal attitude is that I should like scheme to be given a trial subject to a few minor modifications on points of detail. I think it would be a step in advance and, apart from its costliness, an improvement on the present system, and I believe with reasonable goodwill on both sides it could be made to work though not without some hitches and difficulties. Most of my senior officials are much less sanguine. I propose to reserve a final expression of opinion until I can review it in the light of the debate.
The present intention of the unofficial members is said to be to take first a motion repudiating the Commission's statement as to their treatment of the Government officials This may produce unfortunate atmosphere and react upon the whole sub- sequent debate.
As at present advised I would not propose to make any statement in regard to your views. STANLEY.