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No. 31.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 14th June, 1919.)
(Secret.) MY LORD,
Ceylon, 18th May, 1919. WITH reference to my despatch No. 316, of the 17th May, 1919, I have thought it advisable to place in a confidential despatch certain remarks in regard to the scheme for Constitutional reform, which I deem it would not be wise, to place in an open despatch,
2. In my consideration of the scheme set out, I have disregarded the views of the extremists in regard to the reforms which they, an inconsiderable, somewhat voluble, and at the same time irresponsible body, have from time to time put forward, and I have taken the views of those of the more moderate body, who repre- sent the greater majority of those who desire some reasonable reform of the
Constitution.
3. In regard to the constitution of the Legislative Council, two bodies placed before me concrete proposals in that connexion: The European Association of Ceylon; the Ceylon National Association and Reform League. Both of these asso- ciations likewise made recommendations as to franchise: Qualifications of candidates; composition of the Executive Council: and other matters pertaining to a reformed Constitution.
The Burgher community also sent me a moderately worded memorial, asking for a continuation of their representation in any reformed Council.
The Kandyans likewise memorialized me as to adequate representation in the Legislative Council, claiming at least six seats in the reformed Council.
The landed proprietors among the Low Country Sinhalese, and those of the higher castes likewise placed their views before me, asking for larger representation for the Sinhalese generally, but for safeguards against their representation in the Council by any particular organization (? the Ceylon National Association), or by irresponsible and inexperienced politicians.
The Mohammedans likewise ask that their community should continue to be represented in the Council, and request that at least three seats should be allocated to that community. I have received, in addition, a very large number of communi- cations dealing with the subject, containing more or less reasonable and sensible recommendations.
4. I have but little doubt that should your Lordship approve in the main the proposals I now put forward, there will be much criticism from the extremist section of reformers that these proposals are entirely inadequate, but I believe that among the more moderate and more numerous, and also among the influential body of the people they will be considered a sufficient step in advance for the present, and will, I think, be recognized as giving opportunity to the representatives of the people to advance in political thought and practice.
5. I desire to refer to the views of the European Association of Ceylon, and for that purpose I enclose a copy of a report of a committee of that Association. I have not been able to agree entirely with their ideas in regard to the constitution of the Legislative Council, or of the Executive Council, but generally the lines of their report as regards the constitution of the Councils is moderate and sensible. As regards the views of the Ceylon Reform League and Ceylon National Associa tion there have been forwarded to you from time to time their views and aspirations, and these are summarized in the report of the committee of the European Associa- tion, which I now enclose.
It is evident that the committee of the European Association were unable to devise a scheme which, while providing for Government control over legislation, at the same time secured some means of giving the representatives of the people a clear and effective voice in their own domestic affairs. The Ceylon National Associa tion and Reform League make no attempt to solve the problem except to demand an elected majority.
* No. 80.
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The expedient I propose has for its example the power given to the elected side of the Legislative Council in Jamaica to deal with financial measures, but not with measures appertaining to what I now call " domestic affairs."
I have reversed the system in my proposals, retaining full control of finance, but giving similar powers in Ceylon for the control of domestic affairs to the elected members, with due safeguards, as was given to the elected members of the Jamaica Legislative Council in financial affairs, with similar safeguards. I have deliberately retained full financial control for the present. I found the Jamaica system very difficult to work, and though during my term of office I never had to enforce the safeguard of paramount importance," I recognize that a situation could easily arise when such intervention must be used.
6. As regards franchise and the qualifications of candidates, I have taken the proposals of both the European Association and the Ceylon National Association and the Reform League, and, as you will observe, have adopted them, with certain modifications, giving, I consider, a fairly wide franchise and not too high a quali. fication for candidates, thus, I trust, allowing the man of moderate means an opportunity of contesting a seat, and not limiting the selection of candidates either to the more wealthy classes or to the proctor class.
Reference to page 4 of the report of the European Association will give a sum mary of the views of the Ceylon National Association and Reform League, and pages 10 and 11 of the same report those of the European Association of Ceylon.
As regards the composition of the Legislative Council, as set out in my open despatch, I will now give my proposals in detail :—
Government side.-Governor-President.
7.
Ex officio,
six.
Fourteen Nominated
Members.
1. General Officer Commanding Troops.
2. Colonial Secretary.
3. Attorney-General.
4. Treasurer.
5. Controller of Revenue.
6. Government Agent of the Western Province.
7. A Government Agent.
8. A Government Agent.
9. Principal Collector of Customs.
10. Director of Public Works.
11. Director of Education.
12. Principal Civil Medical Officer. 13. General Manager of the Railway. 14. Director of Agriculture.
15. Solicitor-General.
16. European Planting Member.
17. European Commercial Member.
18. Member of the Burgher Community.
19. Sinhalese or Tamil.
20. Tamil or Kandyan.
But two Tamils not to be nominated at the same time, nor two Sinhalese to be nominated at the same time.
8. I speak in my open despatch of fourteen nominated members, two of which number shall usually be Europeans, and three shall usually be Ceylonese.
I have purposely omitted in my open despatch the description of the nominated members, except in the case of the Europeans and Ceylonese, because I think it best to say that of the fourteen nominated members, usually there will be nine officials and five unofficials, but the official seats will be usually filled as set out in this despatch, while the unofficial seats will be usually filled by the three Ceylonese and by the two European members, and I think it would not be wise to bind the Governor to designate any particular official or unofficial member for these seats, since circumstances might arise rendering it necessary to fill all the fourteen seats by nominated official members.
9. The elected side which I propose is as follows :~~~
9 Provincial Members, elected.
1 Colombo Municipal Area, elected.
1 Burgher, elected.
2 Kandyan, elected (or nominated).
1 Low Country Products Association, elected.
3 Europeans, elected.
1 Indian Community, nominated.
1 Mohammedan Community, nominated.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882/10
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC. COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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