117
OEYLON.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PELLCO. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRABES NOT TO
7098
SIR,
No. 49.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Confidential.)
(Received 12th February, 1915.)
The Queen's House, Colombo,
Ceylon, 19th January, 1915. IN continuation of my Confidential despatch of the 14th instant,* I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the following telegraphic despatches:-
(a) Your telegram of the 12th January, as to the delivery free of charges of unpaid and insufficiently prepaid letters and parcels from troops
on active service.
I have referred your telegram to the Postmaster-General for report; but I have little doubt that this Colony will be able to follow the practice in England.
(b) Your telegram of the 12th January, inquiring whether Mr. Walker, who has received a temporary commission, may be allowed the benefits of your circular of the 31st August.
I replied on the 18th instant that there is no objection.
(c) Your telegram of the 13th January, intimating that the Governor- General of Canada should be informed by telegraph of all shipments of rubber to Canada.
Your instructions will be complied with.
(d) Your telegram of the 14th January, permitting shipments of rubber to Italy, and instructing me that such shipments should be reported to you and to the British Consul at the Italian port of destination.
I have given the necessary directions to the officers concerned.
2. I telegraphed to you on the 14th January, recommending Major J. W. Balfour Paul (who served with distinction in South Africa as a member of the Ceylon Mounted Infantry Contingent) and Lieutenant F. L. Reeves, of the Ceylon Mounted Rifles, and Second Lieutenant E. L. Mack, of the Ceylon Light Infantry, for temporary commissions in the Army.
3. On the 13th January I telegraphed that the large demand for plumbago from America continues. I also inquired whether there is a demand for plumbago in England which can be met by direct shipment.
**
4. With reference to paragraph 1 (4) of my Confidential despatch of the 14th instant, I telegraphed on that day, giving the reasons for the detention of the 8.8. Woolwich," bound for Lisbon or other ports, with a cargo of rice. On the 15th instant this vessel was given a clearance to Liverpool, the agents having received orders from London to the effect that she should go direct to that port, and having undertaken to produce a certificate that the cargo has been landed there. I telegraphed to you to this effect on the 18th instant, in reply to your telegram of the 16th, in which you requested that the ship should be released.
5. I annex an extract from the Times of Ceylon, of 31st December, which, under the heading of "No cooo-nuts for Germany," revived the atory of Mr. Hagenbeck and the wireless operator (which has been the subject of my Confidential despatches to you of 3rd and 10th December, 19141) on the authority of an extract from a letter from a "Ceylon Judge," which appeared in the Daily Mail.
As it was clear that the Judge referred to must be Mr. Felix Dias, District Judge of Kandy, whose Colombo residence is next door to the house formerly occupied by Mr. Hagenbeck, I caused Mr. Dias to be communicated with.
Mr. Dias has written to express his regret that the reference in a private letter written by him should have "unwittingly associated him with this Hagenbeck myth," and has, with my permission, written the letter,† copy of which is annexed, to the Times of Ceylon, in which it was published on 14th January.
6. In continuation of paragraph 5 of my Confidential despatch of 31st December, § I enclose, for your information, copies of letters dated 19th December and 15th January and 12th January, which express the views of the Ceylon Planters' Association and the Estate Agents' Association on the subject of the depletion of the European staffs on estates in Ceylon. I would invite your special
* No. 48. ↑ Not reprinted.
; 208/8 and 409/8: not printed.
* No. 46.
attention to paragraph 6 of the letter of 12th January, which amplifies the views I expressed in paragraph 5 of my Confidential despatch of 3rd December last.
It is true that there was a Press campaign in one newspaper in favour of paying from the funds of the Colonial Government the fare home of any impecuni- ous European who might indicate a disposition to enlist. This newspaper, indeed, pressed vigorously the view (for which it received no support elsewhere in the Press of this island) that intending volunteers had a right" to this assistance from Ceylon funds. I gave no countenance to the agitation, which, in due course, spent itself and died a natural death.
14
I need, perhaps, scarcely emphasize Mr. Villiers' remark that Europeans in Ceylon are all men who are out here for work-"with no reserve of men available "a markedly different position from that obtaining in England, with its leisured classes, and with the large numbers of men whom the war has thrown out of employment.
I have, &c.,
ROBERT CHALMERS,
SIR,
Enclosure 3 in No. 49.
Governor.
Kandy, 19th December, 1914. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, giving cover to copy of a paraphrase of a telegram received by His Excellency the Governor from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, for which I thank you.
This matter will be submitted to my committee for their consideration, and an expression of their opinion at the meeting to be held on the 8th January, 1915, but, in the meanwhile, in view of the possibility that some reply to the Secretary of State is contemplated by you, I may perhaps usefully submit my personal views on the matter in question.
I understand that the only assistance rendered by Government in respect of Ceylon men volunteering for active service was training, financing, and despatch of the contingent company of the Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps, which consisted
· of 290 men. Assuming that the number of planters in Ceylon totals approximately 2,500, it can hardly be suggested that by sending less than 10 per cent. Government have in any way disregarded the possibility of depletion of estates.
It is true that a considerable number of men, other than those enrolled in the contingent company, have left the island to volunteer at home for active service, but I think I am right in saying that to such men Government has afforded no pecuniary assistance, although in many cases assistance of this nature was given by their brother planters, friends, and well-wishers.
I would further point out that the majority of these men are of but few years standing in Ceylon, and that their departure has not, in my opinion, affected the working of the estates, as the more responsible planters have stayed behind, and are doing double work where required.
I trust that these remarks may be of some use to you, pending the opinion expressed by my committee, which will be submitted to you in due course.
I am, &c.,
HEW KENNEDY,
The Honourable
SIR,
The Colonial Secretary,
Colombo.
Chairman, Planters' Association of Ceylon.
Enclosure 4 in No. 49.
Kandy, 15th January, 1915.
FURTHER to my letter of the 19th ultimo, replying to yours of the 18th idem, I have the honour to inform you that, at the meeting of my committee held on the 8th instant, it was resolved, "That this committee approve of the reply sent by the chairman."
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary, Colombo.
I am, &c.,
HEW KENNEDY. Chairman and Acting Secretary, Planters'
Association of Ceylon.
• No. 49.
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CEYLON.