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CUBLIC

PECORD OFFICE

بيلساني

Reference -

C.O.882/12

Br | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT 10|

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

130

Question proposed accordingly from the Chair.

"

""

Amendment moved by Mr. F. A. Obeyesekere, seconded by Mr. S. M. Anantham,

impossible that, between the word

and the word " 18 in the fourth line of the motion, there be inserted the words or as may be essential for the protection of Imperial interests.

Question (Mr. Obeyesekere's amendment) put accordingly, and negatived, the determination of the Council being declared by the Speaker under Standing Order 68.

The main question (Mr. E. W. Perera's motion) was then put, and agreed to.

(6) Mr. E. W. Perera, seconded by Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, moved (on 7th July, 1932):—

This Council declares that the enhanced powers granted to the Governor under the Ceylon (State Council) Order in Council, 1931, such as the power to enact laws himself and to suspend laws passed by the Council are in derogation of the rights of the Legislature and reactionary in character and ought to be repealed.

Question put accordingly, and agreed to.

Six members spoke on Motions (5) and (6) above, which were taken up together. No division was taken.

The following motion of Mr. E. W. Perera, seconded by Mr. A. E. Goonesinha, was debated on 7th, 8th, 19th, and 20th July, 1932:—

(7) This Council is of opinion that the Government by Executive Committees of the State Council leads to divided responsibility, delays in administration, is unsuited for the Government of a country and recommends that the duties and responsibilities assigned to such Committees and Ministers should be assigned to Ministers responsible to the Council.

The debate was concluded. (20th July, 1932.)

Question put accordingly, and negatived, the Council dividing as follows

Athulathmudali, Mr. D. D.

Dassenaike, Mr. S. W.

Goonesinha, Mr. A. E.

Jayatilaka, The Hon. Sir D. B.

4

Kannangara, The Hon. Mr. C. W. w. Macan Markar, The Hon. Mr. H. M. Senanayake, The Hon. Mr. D. S. Abeygunasekera, Mr. E. W. Amarasuriya, Mr. H. W. Anantham, Mr. S. M.

Bandaranaike, Mr. S. W. R. D.

Cary, Mr. M. J.

Corea, Mr. G. C. S.

De Fonseka, Mr. Susanta

Pereira, Mr. I, X.

Perera, Mr. G. K. W.

Rajepakse, Mr. A. 'E.

Rambukpota, Mr. G. C.

Ratnayake, Mr. A.

Schneider, Sir Stewart, K.C.

Schokman, Dr. V. B.

Batuwantudawe, The Hon. Mr. C.

Panabokke, The Hon. Mr. T. B.

Ayes.

Perera, Mr. E. W. Wickremasinghe, Dr. S. A. Wimalasurendra, Mr. D. J.

Noes.

De Mel, Sir Henry L.

De Silva, Mr. G. E.

De Silva, Mr. W. A.

De Zoysa, Mr. G. R. Freeman, Mr. H. R.

Karalliadda, Mr. W. T. B.

Kotalawala, Mr. D. H. Kotalawala, Mr. J. L. Madawala, Mr. G. E. Molamure, Mrs. A. Obeyesekere, Mr. F. A. Stewart, Mr. G. K. Stewart-Smith, Mr. D. C.

Subramaniam, Mr. M. M. Villiers, Mr. E. C. Vytilingam, Mr. S. P. Wijeyeratne, Mr. E. A. P. Wikramanayake, Mr. VS. de S.

Declined to Vote.

Sundaram, The Hon. Mr. P.

Ayes, 6; Noes, 36; Declined to Vote, 3; Majority, 30. Twenty-eight members spoke on the above motion

131

Enclosure 4 in No. 52.

NOTE OF THE INTERVIEW GRANTED TO MR. E. A. P. WIJEYERATNE. WITH regard to the proposed deputation to the Secretary of State His Excellency made it clear to Mr. Wijeyeratne that while he would be pleased to provide all possible facilities for the deputation he felt that no good would come of it. He was practically certain that the Secretary of State would inform the deputation that in his opinion the Constitution which had taken some two years to create had not yet had a fair trial and that it was premature to consider any amendments to it. It had been in operation a little more than twelve months and the trial hitherto had been carried out under the worst possible conditions. But for the depression it is conceivable that the Constitu- tion would have worked comparatively smoothly and that the present long drawn out conflict over the Public Services would not have arisen or if it had arisen then in by no means such an acute form. Apart from this conflict, which was as distasteful to His Excellency as it could be to the State Councillors, there had been no friction; with the return to normal times many of their present difficulties would disappear and the merits and defects of the Constitution would be seen in truer perspective. Piecemeal amend- ment of the Constitution was to be deprecated and it would be unwise to tinker with it until it had been thoroughly tested. That was His Excellency's view and he was prac- tically sure that it would be that of the Secretary of State.

(2) Readjustment of Electoral Boundaries.

C. 83301/31 [No. 43].

No. 53.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 15th February. 1932.)

(Confidential.)

SIR,

[Answered by No. 54.]

On Tour, Ceylon, 26th January, 1932. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential despatch

of the 18th December, 1931,* regarding the representations made to you by the deputation from the Muslim Political Conference, and to state that the question of the readjustment of electoral boundaries urged by the deputation will be considered when the next Commission is appointed in terms of Article 5 (2) of the Ceylon (State Council Elections) Order in Council, 1931, to submit recommendations as to the revision of boundaries of electoral districts.

2 I

presume

that no reply has yet been given to the deputation, and I would inquire whether its leader may be informed in terms of paragraph 5 of your despatch.

I have, &c.,

GRAEME THOMSON,

C. 83301/81 [No. 44].

SIR,

No. 54.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Confidential (2).)

Governor.

Downing Street, 7th March, 1932. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential despatch of the 26th of January,† regarding the representations made to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies by the deputation from the Muslim Political Conference, and to note that the question of the readjustment of electoral boundaries

*No. 175 in Eastern No. 154.

+ No. 53.