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Aden should be considered.

7.

(b) Mauritius.

Mr. Reid

In view of the new constitution which came into

force in 1948, in which there is a large unofficial

majority in the Legislative Council, and the much smaller

degree of integration of the various racial communities that

exists at present in comparison with Zanzibar, Mr. Ingrams

expressed the view that it would be necessary to wait

longer before devolving further responsibility.

felt that there should be the outline of a plan into which

colonial territories could be fitted. He did not advocate

the traditional British empirical way. The weakness of the

resent position - but it was common to all Crown Colony

governments at a certain stage was that the elected

members formed a permanent opposition. An opposition that

would be irresponsible, it was suggested, until it was

given responsibility. Doubt was expressed whether there

was, at present, sufficient racial integration to permit

of the separation of the constitutional functions of

government from the executive on the lines suggested by

Sir Charles Jeffries in S.T.C. (49) 16.. Mr. Ingrams

thought that it might be possible, in time, to establish

a local "President" somewhat equivalent to the Sultan in

Zanzibar, except that he would represent the King. He also

thought that, in a place the size of Mauritius, there was

room for the development of local government side by side

with the Legislative Council.

•

8. A practical point raised was whether, in a plural

society of this kind where interests were largely communal,

His Majesty's Government could act as arbiter between the

various groups whilst, at the same time, handing over a

/large

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