12
I am under the impression that in my secret despatch of the 25th of June,* I dealt not only with the question of lowering the franchise, but also with the question of appointing a member of the Indian Community to be a nominated member, and that in the views I expressed I anticipated the difficulties pointed out by Sir Grahanı Bower, with whom I concur.
So long as the present constitution of the Council of Government exists, all that can be done seems to be to exercise the greatest care in the appointment of nominated members, so that this section of the Council may be certain to include-if not members of the Indian Community--at least a majority of members prepared to support the just and reasonable claims of the Indian Conimunity.
If such a majority cannot be secured by any other means, I should be prepared to advise that when the present Council expires, the number of official nominated members should be increased. This can be done without any changes in the consti- tution of the Council.
13
independent means; a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Edinburgh, and a Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians, Glasgow.
3. Before nominating Dr. Nalletamby to a seat in the Council I thought it my duty to explain to him that the nominee members are selected in the expectation, and in the confidence, that they will co-operate with the Crown in its general policy and not oppose the Crown on any important question without strong and substantial reasons of the validity of which, however, they are themselves the judges.
4. Dr. Nalletamby asked for time to consider my proposal, and the next day sent me a letter of acceptance, of which I annex a copy.
I have, &c.,
CHAS. BRUCE,
Governor.
30324
SIR,
No. 6.
I am, &c.,
CHAS. BRUCE.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to ACTING GOVERNOR SIR G. BOWER. (Secret.)
Downing Street, October 26, 1900.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir C. Bruce's secret despatch of the 25th of June last, in which he suggests certain changes in the constitution of the Executive Council of Mauritius.
2. I am prepared to accept the proposal, in paragraph 11 of that despatch, that the Royal Instructions of the 21st of July, 1897 (which have superseded the Royal Instructions of 1st March, 1889, to which Sir C. Bruce refers), should be amended so as to place the nominated members of the Executive Council on the same footing as the nominated members of the Council of Government, in respect to the period of their appointment and the power of the Governor to suspend them. I am, however, of opinion that it is desirable that this amendment should be deferred until after the approaching dissolution of the Council. To introduce a constitutional change of this kind just before the dissolution would, in my opinion, be inopportune, since it would provide those who are opposed to the Colonial Government with a convenient "election cry."
3. I have also to acknowledge the receipt of your secret despatch of the 6th of August last, giving your views, which coincide with those of Sir C. Bruce, on the impracticability of the suggestion that a member of the Indian Community should be nominated to a seat in the Council of Government.
I have, &c.,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
EXCELLENCE,
Enclosure in No. 7.
12, Bourbon Street, Port Louis, August 31, 1901. AFTER having thought over the matter, I have come to the conclusion that it is my duty to accept to be a member of the Legislative Council as nominee, so as to lefend, along with the Government, the rights of the Indian section of the population.
I have, &c.,
Dr. M. X. Nalletamby.
To Ilis Excellence Sir Chas. Bruce, G.C.M.G.,
Governor of Mauritius and its Dependencies,
&c.,
&c.,
&c.
35042
(Secret.)
SIR,
No. 8.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE.
Downing Street, October 16, 1901.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your secret despatch of the Brd ultimo,* on the subject of the nomination of Dr. M. F. X. Nalletamby to a seat in the Council of Government.
2. You will have learnt from my public despatch, No. 256, of even date,† that
His Majesty has been pleased to approve this appointment.
3. I am glad that you have been able to select a member of the Indian Commu- nity for this post.
37875
I have, &c.,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
35042
No. 9.
(Secret.)
No. 7.
GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received October 7, 1901.)
[Answered by No. 8.]
SIR,
Government House, September 3, 1901. WITH reference to your secret despatch of the 26th October, 1900,‡ in the final paragraph of which you allude to previous correspondence on the subject of the nomi- nation of a member of the Indian Community to a seat in the Council of Government, I have the honour to inform you that I have, as reported in my despatch, No. 324, of even date, § nominated Dr. Marius Francis Xavier Nalletamby to a seat in the Council. 2. Dr. Nalletamby is a highly educated gentleman of pure Indian descent, of
• Nu, 3.
No. 6.
† No. 4
§ 35030: not printed.
(Secret.)
Sm,
GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received October 28, 1901.)
[Answered by No. 10.]
Government House, September 26, 1901. WITH reference to my telegraphic despatch of the 19th, and your telegraphic reply of the 23rd instant, I have the honour to inform you that four vacancies having recently occurred among the members of the Board of Commissioners for the town of Beau-Bassin and Rosehill, I thought it a convenient opportunity to act on the recom- inendations contained on page 12 of Mr. Muir Mackenzie's Report on the condition of Indian Immigrants in Mauritius, transmitted to me under cover of your confidential despatch of the 8th July.§ Mr. Muir Mackenzie advised the nomination of members of the Indian community not only to seats in the Council of Government, but on the various Committees or Boards to which members are appointed by the Governor.
§ 9596,97: not printed. † 35030: not printed. † 32915; not printed.
• No. 7.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
C.O. 882
6
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