CO882-10 — Page 465

448

47318

SIR,

(Secret.)

No. 80.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 7th October, 1924.)

[Answered by No. 84.]

Queen's Cottage, Nuwara Eliya, 16th September, 1924. WITH reference to the Secret despatches* which have passed between us on the subject of the Constitution of the Executive Council of this Colony, I have the honour to state that I propose to give effect to the decisions therein conveyed in the following manner. Sir Ambalavanar Kanagasabai, who was a member of the Executive Council up to the date of the dissolution of the Legislative Council in August last, is a candidate for one of the Jaffna seats, and I understand that it is likely that he will be elected. If he is elected, I propose to ask him to resign his seat in the Legislative Council, and then to nominate him to be a member of that Council to fill one of the three "nominated" seats, and to recommend that he be reappointed to the Executive Council. I propose similarly to invite one other elected member, who would probably be a Sinhalese, to resign his seat, and then to nominate him in the same way, and at the same time to recommend his appointment as a member of the Executive Council.

2. The constitution of the Executive Council in regard to communities now represented on that body would be altered by increasing the number of Sinhalese members by one, the Tamil representation still being retained. Sir Marcus Fernando, the present Sinhalese member of the Executive Council, being the other member of that community. In view of the strength of the Sinhalese as compared with the Tamil element of the population, I consider this proportional representation on the Executive Council is justified-that is to say, two Sinhalese members and one Tamil member.

་་

3. The effect of this will be to increase the number of unofficial members of the Executive Council by one, and I consider that the number of official members should be similarly increased. The new official seat should not, however, be held ex-officio," and if you approve of these proposals, I intend to recommend that Mr. W. T. Southorn, Principal Collector of Customs, and Chairman, Colombo Port Commission, be appointed. The offices held by Mr. Southorn are among the most important in the service, and I have a very high opinion of his ability, and consider that he will prove a most useful member of the Council,

4. I would in this connexion refer to the correspondence ending with my Secret despatch of 11th July, 1922,† in which the question of adding one or more additional official members to the Executive Council from among the senior members of the Civil Service was discussed.

5. As the elections to the Legislative Council will take place on the 27th instant, and the New Council will meet about the 15th October, I shall be glad if your reply to this despatch can be made by telegraph.

48227

No. 81.

I have, &c..

W. H. MANNING,

Governor, &c.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 1.50 p.m., 11th October, 1924.)

11TH OCTOBER.

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 84.]

Person

Confidential. Your telegram of 10th October. na ned paragraph No. 1 of my telegram 18th September§ has not been elected to Legislative Council, consequently I have not offered him a seat in Executive Council, but I have, subject to your approval, offered the seat to Katiravelpillai Balasingham,

* Nos. 21 and 81212/28: not printed.

No. 27 in Eastern No. 188. ↑ No. 47818/24: not printed.

§ No. 77.

87

Tamil member for a northern province constituency, and he has accepted. Number of elected members of the Council have requested that no further steps be taken appoint two members of the Executive Council to be selected from elected members of the Legislative Council until the new Council has been sitting for some time and has settled down. I have informed them that subject to your approval I am prepared to accept the proposal and I consider it should be accepted now otherwise prompt dealing with the Budget which is most desirable may be interfered with. After the Budget has been passed matter can be dealt with, but I would ask your authority for my action and that as regards Balasingham his appointment may lie in abeyance for the present.

48228

No. 82.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 3.30 p.m., 11th October, 1924.)

11TH OCTOBER.

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 83.]

Confidential. I have appointed, subject to your approval, Herman Albert Loos to be nominated member to fill third nominated seat in Legis- lative Council. Loos sat in the last Council and proved himself useful member.

you approve will you please telegraph.-MANNING.

If

48228

No. 83.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 6.50 p.m., 14th October, 1924.)

TELEGRAM.

CONFIDENTIAL. Your telegram 11th October.*

His Majesty has been

pleased to give directions for appointment of Loos as nominated unofficial Member of Legislative Council.

48227

(Secret:)

No. 84.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. [Answered by No. 87.]

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the

Downing Street, 28th October, 1924. 11th October, † and in confirmation of my telegram of the 17th October, to convey to you my approval of your proposals for the appointment of Members to the Executive Council of Ceylon.

2. I agree to your proposals to defer for the present the appointment of two Members of the Executive Council to be selected from the elected members. of the Legislative Council. As soon as you consider it desirable to proceed with the appointment of such Members, I shall be prepared to advise His Majesty to issue instructions for the appointment of the two selected Members. proposal that Mr. Balasingham should be one of the Members so selected.

I concur in your

3. I presume that you would wish to proceed with the appointment of Mr. W. T. Southorn without further delay, and I have to convey to you His Majesty's instructions for his appointment under the Public Seal of the Colony as provided in Clause 2 of the Royal Instructions, dated the 11th September, 1920.

I have, &c.,

J. H. THOMAS.

*No. 62. f No. 81. †48227/24: not printed.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

I, I L L L L

Reference :-

CO. 882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO

88