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that the insistence by the Tamil community upon an additional Member to represent the Indians is a recognition of the sentiment which is daily gathering volume and force for the separate representation of the Indian population in Ceylon, com- prising as it does the Borahs, the Khojas, the Memons, the Sindhis, the Malayalis, the Telegus, the Parsees, the Marathas the Bengalis, and the Pathans, who are by race, language, religion, and social settlement as different from the Tamil-speaking Moors, or the Tamils, as either of them are from the Sinhalese or any other section of the local population.

11.

It is in these circumstances that memorialists respectfully beseech your intervention in their behalf, so that their interests may not be disregarded in any reconstruction of the political machinery of this island; and, pending reconsti- tution, memorialists humbly ask that you will graciously recommend to the Imperial Government the sympathetic consideration of their prayer.

And for this indulgence memorialists will be for ever deeply beholden.

Colombo,

19th February, 1918.

22688

SIR,

No. 11.

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that which I now forward. In the circumstances I feel considerable doubt whether either memorial really expresses the views of any considerable number of the Indian merchants, who have hitherto shown no signs of taking interest in anything except their business. You are, of course, aware of the ease with which signatures to any memorial can be obtained in this country.

3. The Indian traders in this country, though a small body numerically, have very important trade interests, but I cannot see that that fact entitles them to expect special representation in the Legislative Council, a privilege which is not possessed even by the European merchants as a class. In this connexion I invite reference to the third paragraph of Sir John Anderson's despatch.

4. I recommend that the memorialists should be informed that you are unable to meet their wishes.

THE CEYLON INDIAN ASSOCIATION.

SIR,

THE SECRETARY OF STATE 'to THE ACTING-GOVERNOR. (No. 270.)

Downing Street, 11th June, 1918.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the late Sir J. Anderson's despatch No: 129, of the 16th March,* transmitting a memorial addressed to me by the Indian Association in Ceylon praying that the claims of the Indian residents in the Colony to adequate representation in the Legislative Council may receive consideration.

2. I shall be glad if you will be so good as to cause the Association to be informed that I have received their memorial, and that, while I am unable to accept all their contentions, I will carefully consider their views when the time is more opportune for an examination of all the varying proposals which have been put forward for altering the Constitution of Ceylon.

I have, &c..

R. E. STUBBS,

Officer Administering the Government.

Enclosure in No. 12.

14, Bankshall Street, Colombo. 12th March, 1918.

I HAVE the honour to forward, in triplicate, a memorial addressed to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies by the Indian merchants in Ceylon on the subject of the appointment of a member in the Legislative Council to represent Indian mercantile interests.

I shall be obliged if you will kindly place this memorial before His Excellency the Governor at your earliest convenience for His Excellency's favourable con- sideration and recommendation of the prayer therein contained in forwarding it to the Colonial Office.

The Private Secretary to

I have &c.,

T. DAIVANAYAGAm Pillai,

Secretary,

The Ceylon Indian Merchants' Association.

His Excellency the Governor,

Queen's Cottage, Nuwara Eliya.

I have, &c.,

WALTER H. LONG.

ང་

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO. 882/10

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TÔ

BE

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

30430

No. 12.

THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 21st June, 1918.)

[Answered by No. 13.]

Ceylon, 8th May, 1918.

(No. 219.) SIR,

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the enclosed memorial, signed by certain members of the Indian mercantile community, on the subject of the appoint- ment of a member to represent Indian mercantile interests in the Legislative Council, together with a copy of a covering letter, which appears to show that the memorial originates with the Ceylon Indian Merchants' Association,

2. This Association, which was established in the early part of this year, is reported to be mainly run by Mr. N. G. Powar, the Municipal Assessor of Colombo, who has recently made himself unduly conspicuous by organizing a reception in Colombo for Tilak and the other members of the abortive Home Rule deputation. Mr. Powar is the President of the Ceylon Indian Association, a memorial from which was enclosed in Sir John Anderson's despatch No. 129, of the 16th of March,* and it is interesting to note the very close resemblance between that memorial and

* No. 10.

To the Right Honourable

Mr. Walter Henry Long, P.C.,

His Majesty's Principal

Secretary of State for the Colonies,

Downing Street, London, S.W.

THE HUMBLE MEMORIAL OF THE INDIAN MERCHANTS RESIDENT IN CEYLON, MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH,

Memorialists, for themselves and for those whom they are authorized to represent in this matter, but whose signatures they have been unable to obtain in the limits of time at their disposal, beg leave to ask your kind intervention in a situation which to them is fraught with the deepest importance.

2. It is in regard of the scheme of reform of the Legislature of this Colony submitted for the consideration of His Majesty's Government by various public bodies in this country, a scheme which, while claiming to improve the existing system of representation in Ceylon, seeks to perpetuate the manifest injustice to not less than one-sixth of the population of this island by disfranchising the large, important, and influential community which memorialists represent. Memorialists' desire is that the unfairness implied in this proposal be not permitted, and that, whether or not there is to be a reform of the Legislative Council as suggested, the vast interests of the memorialists be adequately protected by the inclusion in the Legislature of, at least, one member chosen from among them to advise and assist the Council in its deliberations on matters affecting the safety. well-being, and progress of the Indian mercantile community in Ceylon.