189
563
0.83230/3/31 [No. 1].
No. 144.
THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT to THE SECRETARY
OF STATE.
(Received 6.35 p.m., 2nd March, 1931.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 148.]
2ND MARCH. No. 49. Confidential. During the course of informal discussion this morning, Monday, with members of the Legislative Council on statement of administrative procedure for Executive Committees, I was asked to telegraph to you request that final draft of Order in Council should be laid before the Legislative Council for discussion, which should not last more than three days, and that their views should be considered by you before promulgation of the Order in Council. 1 promised to transmit request, but said that I could not advise you to accept it. Ground for request is apprehension that the Order in Council may interpret certain features of the Constitution otherwise than they were interpreted by those who favoured its adoption, and that details not fully worked out in Special Commission's Report or Sir Herbert Stanley's despatch may have been elaborated in manner unacceptable to the people of Ceylon. My own feeling is that to accede to request would result in reopening discussion on points already settled, and would considerably delay intro- duction of the new Constitution. I should be glad of permission to publish this telegram and your reply.
C. 83230/3/31 [No. 3).
No. 145.
THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 11.49 a.m., 4th March, 1931.)
TELEGRAM.
Your telegram of the 26th February, Confidential. 4TH MARCH. No. 51. No. 47. Confidential.* Order in Council second revise object of first six lines of Clause 22 I.(a) is to indicate that the Governor may not direct an Officer of State to initiate a Bill or vote unless normal constitutional authority has refused to do so. Compare Section 26 (1) of Government of India Act of 1919. Words do not, therefore, appear to me redundant, but I see no strong objection to their omission.
C 83230/31 [No. 13].
No. 146.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT.
(Sent 3 p.m., 4th March, 1931.) TELEGRAM.
No. 50. CONFIDENTIAL. Your despatch of 28th January, Confidential No. 5.† Order in Council, Clause 16. Propose that Speaker should take precedence next after Officers of State. Deputy Speaker after Ministers. Do you agree?—I assfield.
C. 83230/31 [No. 18].
SIR,
No. 147.
AIR MINISTRY to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Air Ministry, London, W.C.2, 7th March, 1931. WITH reference to Colonial Office letter of the 25th February last,* forwarding the revised drafts of an Order in Council and of consequential Letters Patent and Royal Instructions relating to the proposed new Constitution for Ceylon, I am com- manded by the Air Council to state, for the information of Lord Passfield, that they have no observations to offer on these drafts.
I am, &c.,
C. 83230/3/31 [No. 21.
No. 148.
J. S. ROSS.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT.
(Sent 6. p.m., 10th March 1931.) TELEGRAM.
No. 55. CONFIDENTIAL. Your telegram of 2nd March, No. 49.† You may inform Legislative Council that I regret that I cannot see my way to lay before them final draft of Order in Council before promulgation. The principles on which the Order is based have been fully discussed with the Legislative Council. The detailed provisions have been most carefully considered in consultation with the Governor and criticism of details can have little value until experience has been gained of the working of the new Constitution. It is, moreover, essential that there should be no avoidable delay in promulgation of Order in Council in order that State Council may be constituted in sufficient time to deal with budget for next financial year. You may publish your telegram and this reply.-PASSFIELD.
C. 83230/31 [No. 19].
SIR,
No. 149.
WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
[Answered by No. 150.]
The War Office, London, S.W.1, 19th March, 1931. In reply to your letter of 25th February,* regarding the proposed new Constitu- tion of Ceylon, I am commanded by the Army Council to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that they observe that it is provided in the does not include revised draft Order in Council that the phrase "public officer personnel of the Ceylon Defence Force, and to inquire whether Lord Passfield is still does not cover military satisfied that in the circumstances the phrase "public officer " officers, &c., of the Regular Forces.
I am to add that the Council have no further observations to offer.
C. 83230/31 [No. 20].
SIR,
No. 150.
I am, &c.,
A. E. WIDDOWS.
COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.
Downing Street, 8th April, 1931.
I AM directed by Lord Passfield to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th March, regarding the new Constitution of Ceylon, and to state that, while the expression public officer is not defined in the Order in Council, the expression
15
* No. 143.
+ No. 136.
*No. 141.
† No. 144
‡ No. 149.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.882/11
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON