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98

No. 90.

451

6453

SIR,

No. 89.

MR. H. J. TEMPLE to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 10th February, 1925.)

Austhorpe, Grassington Road,

Ceylon.

Eastbourne, 9th February, 1925.

SHORTLY after the recent General Elections in Ceylon, when Members were returned for the various constituencies under the new Constitution, the President of the European Association of Ceylon had the happy idea of inviting all the unofficial Members of the new Legislative Council to dine with him to meet the members of the Council of the European Association and leading Europeans. The dinner was a great success, and was attended by all the a few other Unofficial Members of Council (except one, who was prevented by mourning). The dinner was a private one and not attended by the Press, and in proposing the toast of Ceylon, Mr. B. W. Leefe, the President of the European Association, made a speech, of which I enclose a report.*

I have ventured to bring this to your notice because the idea of the dinner seemed to me such a happy one, and the sentiments expressed in Mr. Leefe's speech so thoroughly represent the views and feelings of all Europeans who have the interests of Ceylon so thoroughly at heart, and will indicate to you that we are deeply anxious to work with the Ceylonese in a true spirit of co-operation for the material and political development of Ceylon.

I am glad to say that, from the reports sent to me from Ceylon, that feeling was fully reciprocated by the Unofficials present at the dinner, and I look forward with confidence to friendly co-operation by all parties in working the new Constitution.

In this connexion, you may perhaps have read the speech (of which I enclose newspaper report*) of the new President of the Ceylon National Congress at the annual meeting of Congress, and you may think it does not confirm what I have just written. Mr. Corea's Presidential address breathes a spirit of non-co-operation and fulminates against local misgovernment and the system of Crown Colony government. The whole tone of the speech is in marked contrast with the spirit of Mr. Leefe's speech, and I am glad to be able to say that I do not believe Mr. Corea's views meet with the approval of either the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council or of the majority of the supporters of Congress itself. I feel I can give you assurance that there is a very general idea amongst thinking Ceylonese and Europeans that a step forward has been taken in the constitutional development of Ceylon, that a period of years is now necessary to digest and test the working of the new constitu- tion and that only by general co-operation and confidence and appreciation of responsibilities can there, at the end of that period, be any hope or ground for further development.

I would take this opportunity of saying that, as the accredited representative in England of the European Association of Ceylon and as one who has lived and worked in that Island, I am at your disposal--as I have been at your predecessor's -at any time for information or opinion in regard to political matters in Ceylon.

I am, &c.,

H. J. TEMPLE.

SIR,

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 7th April, 1925.)

(Confidential.)

WITH reference to my Confidential despatch of the 6th November, 1924.*

Ceylon, 14th March, 1925. regarding the first general election held under the Ceylon (Legislative Council) Order in Council, 1923, I have the honour to inform you that the election petition presented to the Supreme Court in respect of the election of the member for the Central Province Rural Electorate, resulted in candidate concerned (Mr. G. E. de Silva) losing his seat in Council.

2. Two other seats fell vacant when Mr. K. Balasingham, member for the Northern Province (Eastern Division) and Mr. A. C. G. Wijeyekoon, who had been elected by the Urban Electorate of the Central Province, tendered their formal resignations consequent on their appointment to be nominated unofficial members of the Executive Council and nominated unofficial members of the Legislative Council. 3. The necessary by-elections were held on the 14th February, when the polling resulted as follows:-

Electorate.

Central Province (Rural)

Northern Province

(Eastern Division)

Central Province (Urban)

Candidates.

P. B. Rambukwella

Votes recorded

for each.

4,129

2,941

437 (spoilt).

T. de Silva

T. M. Sabaratnam

1,560

H. A. P. Sandrasegara, K.C.

1,293

187 (spoilt).

W. A. de Silva...

J. W. S. Attygalle

I have, &c.,

* No. 86.

2,273 1,286

211 (spoilt).

W. H. MANNING,

Governor, &c.

*Not reprinted.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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