CO537-5001 — Page 52

3. It is not proposed to amend Governor's instruments, but you should interpret them, so long as new appointment of Commander-in-Chief is maintained, in such manner as not to conflict with his overriding powers and authorit, in civil no less than in military affairs. In effect your overt relations with Board of Ministers will not be affected except in so far as Commander-in-Chief may give directions for civil measures and will preside at council or conference convened for furtherance and coordination of defence measures.

4. Reference is made in last paragraph of directive to situa- tion in which services of civil government can no longer operate effectively. If and when in opinion of Commander-in- Chief such situation has arisen, he will take such special measures in substitution of civil administration as he may judge to be immediately necessary, and will report immediately to His Majesty's Government. If he decided that military regime was necessary it is contemplated that he would himself assume all functions of Governor and special military courts of law would be substituted for civil courts. You yourself. would in that situation necessarily cease to be Governor, but His Majesty's Government would hope that you would find it possible to continue to place your essential experience at their service by consenting to remain with Commander-in-Chief as Chief Political Adviser.

5.

You will, I know, understand that these measures and ylans are called for only by exceptional character of present emergency in war with Japan and vital importance of holding Ceylon with consequent need to subordinate all other factors to its use for defence purpose. His Majesty's Government count on your cooperation to the full. They are anxious that civil

administration should be maintained as long as possible but if there should be need to substitute full military regime as in paragraph 4 your personal influence and knowledge would still be invaluable.

6. I will telegraph further as to contingency of having to substitute military in place of civil courts if that course were judged necessary.

7. You will need to communicate to Board of Ministers inform- ation us to the appointment of Commander-in-Chief, Ceylon, and it is desired that this communication should at present be confined to first three paragraphs of this telegram. I should like to know your views as to your own position if military regime should be established (see end of para. 4). And also any suggestion you can make now as to provision of necessary assistance to Commander-in-Chief in any situation in which normal civil administration could no longer function.

8. Please give copy of this telegram and your reply to Commander-in-Chief.