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for reform as a whole. We beg to remind him of all that the promoters of the Reform Movement have said of the baneful effect of the present system of racial representation. We have made the territorial electorate a fundamental part of our demands. The omission of the words, especially after the publication of the draft resolutions, will be construed as a surrender of an important principle.

It must be borne in mind that the resolutions contain only the essential principles which we desire to assert. They do not constitute a complete scheme, and while we desire to avoid the introduction of details into the resolutions, we are anxious to do all that could be done to secure as large a representation as possible to the Tamils when exceptional provisions consistent with the principles referred to come to be considered.

As Presidents of the Ceylon National Association and the Ceylon Reform League we pledge ourselves to accept any scheme. which the Jaffna Association may put forward, so long as it is not inconsistent with the various principles contained in the resolutions. We feel sure that nothing obviously unreasonable will be insisted on by the Jaffna Association. We are prepared to pledge ourselves to actively support a provision for the reservation of a seat to the Tamils in the Western Province so long as the electorate remains territorial.

We suggest that the resolutions should be accepted by the Jaffna Association without any alteration, and that they should leave it to us to negotiate with the Indians. Europeans, and Burghers on the subject of special representation for them.

Yours, &c..

JAMES PEIRIS, President, Cevlon National Association.

E. J. SAMERA WICKRAME, President, Ceylon Reform League.

37681

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No. 32.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to the GOVERNOR.

(Confidential.)

SIR,

Downing Street. 22nd August, 1922.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential despatch of the 11th July* forwarding a letter addressed to me by seven elected members of the Legislative Council, who at the meeting of the Council held on 22nd June, when asked by you to serve on a Committee for the allocation and distribution of seats in the Territorial Electorates, refused to do so.

2. I have to request that the members in question may be informed that I have received their letter and that I approved of the appointment of the Committee (which had been supported by the Legislative Council without a division) because I realized that the question of the distribution of territorial seats was one as to which there had been acute controversy; that Mr. Peiris in his opening remarks in the debate in the Legislative Council had indicated that an agreement had not been reached as to the basis of distribution of the territorial seats; that until every effort had been made to reach some satisfactory solution of this question I found difficulty in coming to a conclusion as to the future composition of the Council; and that I, therefore, regret that the signatories of the memorial have not seen their way to sit on the Committee and attempt to find a basis for a recommendation to me. It should be added that I would, of course, attach greater importance to a scheme endorsed by a large body of Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council than to any proposals pressed upon me by outside agencies, and that I am satisfied that you have no desire to stifle discussion in the Legislative Council or to exceed your powers as President of the Council.

I have, &c.,

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL.

39338

No. 30.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 6.25 a.m., 9th August, 1922.)

TELEGRAM.

8TH AUGUST. Following transmitted at request Galle Association. Begins: Galle Association protests against delay of reform of constitution and violation by Government of solemn pledges given to the people and urges immediate grant of three-fourth territorial majority as minimum advance towards Swaraj and only means of allaying present universal discontent. Association strongly of opinion appointment of Allocation Committee was a pretext for delaying reforms and obtaining unjust weapon of minority rule. Ends.-MANNING.

41801

No. 31.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE, (Received 10.48 a.m., 22nd August, 1922.)

TELEGRAM.

1

21ST AUGUST. Following transmitted at request Honorary Secretary, Ceylon National Congress.

Begins: Contents of communal members' Memorial, 21st February," referred to in Allocation Committee's report↑ but kept secret, local govern- ment refusing publication just discovered. It has gross misstatements and misleading omissions. Congress condemns proposed reversion to communal representation as unconstitutional. and contrary to assurance by Colonial Under Secretary in Parliament in August, 1920, that communal representa- tion will be temporary. Any device to give group of minorities domination over bulk of people would make it impossible for latter to accept and work scheme so framed. Memorial follows. Pereira, Congress President. Ends. --MANNING.

42330

No. 33.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 5.50 a.m., 25th August, 1922.) TELEGRAM.

24TH AUGUST. Following transmitted at request Ceylon National Congress. Begins. Subsequent to our last Memorial forwarded through the Gover- nor, dated 8th July,t the Allocation Committee's report was published containing suggestions obviously intended to mislead the Colonial Office, and to place entire power in the hands of communal minorities.

Congress, on behalf of the country condemns the report as dangerously reactionary, and in direct contravention of the Governor's promises, and asks at least for a two-thirds territorial majority as voted by the majority of unofficial members at the last reform debate.—Ends. -MANNING.

42757

No. 34.

THE PRESIDENT, COLOMBO TAMIL ASSOCIATION to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 9.25 p.m., 26th August, 1922.) TELEGRAM.

Beg

26TH AUGUST. Colombo Tamil Association, representing all Tamil sections, entirely disapproves scheme in Memorandum§ forwarded by Minorities. inform that Elected Council Members for Tamil Provinces have publicly repudiated Minorities Memorandum. This Association forwarding Memorial. DOCTOR RATNAM.

* Enclosure in No. 8.

Not printed here.

* No. 28.

Enolomurs in 88599; not printed.

Not printed here.

Enclosure in No. 8.

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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