5
408
35460
No. 6..
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(Paraphrase.)
(Sent 5.30 p.m., 18th July, 1923.) TELEGRAM.
PUBLICATION of both despatches will be deferred until I have received your views as promised in your telegram of 14th July.* If, however, I am pressed for a statement, I can only reply that certain tentative proposals have been submitted to you, and that an expression of your views is awaited. I would impress on you that it will be very difficult after views expressed in your published despatch of 23rd April,t to resist altogether desire of unofficials for some more active association in the executive and repetition of demand for full ministerial control, which I am anxious to avoid, will, so far as I can see, be the inevitable result of persistence in attitude, that scheme must be produced by unofficials.-DEVONSHIRE.
36148
No. 7.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 1.8 p.m., 19th July, 1923.) TELEGRAM.
(Paraphrase.)
[Answered by No. 13.]
19TH JULY. May I suggest that Constitution of the Executive Committee of Barbados may be adapted to local requirements except that votes and initiate all Government measures would be inadvisable ?
powers to introduce money scheme on these lines prepared for your consideration if you desire it. My private I shall have a letter to Sir G. Grindle dated 23rd April,‡ sets forth very frankly what my views are, and I have no objection to its being shown to the Secretary of State. I have waited for unofficial members to put forward some scheme in pursuance of their undertaking but they have not done so. I anticipated this in my private letter referred to above, and I have always recognized that Government would eventually have to formulate its own scheme. I would urge upon the Secretary of State that I am convinced that his proposals so far from preventing repetition of demand for full ministerial responsibility would, on the contrary, strengthen such demand. I have fully discussed this in a despatch which follows by mail 21st July, § in reply to your despatch Confidential “A” of 18th June.||-MANNING.
37478
No. 8.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 8.15 p.m., 20th July, 1923.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 9.]
I HAVE been impressed with intense Sinhalese feeling shown by Reform Deputation against special Tamil seat for Colombo. It has been definitely stated
by Pereira, that if for this seat an additional territorial seat for Jaffna which would be held by a Tamil could be substituted, or alternatively a communal Tamil seat for whole Island whether elected or nominated, he would regard advance as adequate pending further revision in five years and peaceful working of reformed constitution would receive his strong support. An innovation is involved by special Tamil seat.
• No. 4.
No. 7 in Cmd. 1906. ¡Not printed. I No. 24. || No. 1.
for Colombo, which is difficult to defend, and is likely to inspire demands for similar treatment from other races. It was only with reluctance that I acceded to the grant of the special seat, and I would gladly accept arrangement for substitution. Please inform me by telegraph, whether you consider that such an arrangement would be practicable. I should feel compelled in the alternative to make a definite announcement that special seat would be abolished without compensation in Jaffna, or elsewhere on next revision of constitution.-DEVONSHIRE.
37478
No. 9.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 4.50 p.m., 21st July, 1923.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 11.]
21ST JULY, Pereira's proposal contained in your telegram of yesterday* is unacceptable, as it would involve great breach of faith with Tamils whose good will is eminently necessary for the working of the new constitution and whose support of the new constitution has been gained by the grant of the special seat.. The Tamil community have taken your despatch 18th Junet to signify that this seat has been definitely allotted to them, and I myself have informed them to this effect having been under the impression that this matter had been definitely decided by you. It is generally understood that the constitution will be revised in five years' time, but I should strongly deprecate definite statement by you, that at next revision of the constitution this special saat will be abolished. statement following your despatch of 18th June,† paragraph five, that the question I would suggest of this seat might well be reconsidered on revision of the constitution at the end of five years, by which time you would be able to form an opinion as to the necessity for its retention. The necessity for the seat, as I have pointed out in previous correspondence, arises out of the importance of large number of Tamils in the Western Province and their special interests in that province. These Tamils, if not specially represented, would under local conditions be deprived of any possibility of effective representation.-MANNING.
37079
No. 10.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE, (Received 8.50 a.m., 24th July, 1923.) TELEGRAM.
(Paraphrase.)
24TH JULY. My Confidential despatch of 19th July. Despatch forwarded by mail to-day, § containing proposals which I think may be developed into a workable scheme for Executive Committee with sub-committees as proposed by you consisting of the Elected Members of the Legislative Council Official and Nominated Unofficial Members of the Executive Council.-MANNING.
37478
No. 11.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 5 p.m., 24th July, 1923.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 12.]
Did you place alternatives before Tamil leaders before sending your telegram
of 21st July. It seems to me at least as important to secure good will of Sinhalese
* No. 8.
No. 1 in Cmd. 2002.
* No. 24. § No. 25. || No. 9.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
FILIITT
C.O. 882/10
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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