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Majesty's ships, subject of course to the dates of the two journeys being such that the Naval Commander-in-Chief would find it possible to make a ship available for the purpose

I have, &c.,

GRAEME THOMSON,

Governor.

Enclosure 1 in No. 9.

27

5. I have not inquired from the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he would approve of this course, nor have I fully considered whether I shall be able to spare the services of a British officer, and if so, for how long a period. Before doing so I should be glad to receive Your Highness's views upon this proposal.

With renewed assurance of my esteem and regard,

I have, &c.,

GRAEME THOMSON,

Governor.

TRANSLATION OF HIS HIGHNESS THE SULTAN'S LETTER.

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

God be praised.

WITH my prayers and salutations, we desire to inform His Excellency the present Governor of Ceylon, that none of the very sound and good advice given with our approval to myself, our Prime Minister, Nobles and my subjects, on his visit to these Islands, on 16th April, 1931? (6th March, 1931) by His Excellency Sir Bourdillon, has been carried out.

What I understood from the advice given by Sir Bourdillon was, that for the good and peaceful Government of our dominion, I should grant them a constitution and govern them hereafter in collaboration with and approval of a properly constituted Majlis, and thereafter no act of Government should be carried out without its approval. Although a proclamation to give effect to these my good intentions for the better Government of my people, was issued to my Nobles and subjects, our wishes have not yet been given effect to, because of my Prime Minister's desire to have the rules of procedure and regulations of the Government to be first drawn up, before the constitu- tion of the Majlis. On this pretence, he is obstructing the passage of the constitution. Owing to this undue delay we and our people are obliged to live in great sorrow and pain of mind.

My object in addressing Your Excellency on this subject is to seek Your Excel- lency's kind but firm help in this hour of great need.

These our wishes are being conveyed to Your Excellency through my own beloved son and it is our earnest wish that Your Excellency will accept the sentiments written in my own hands as coming from my own mouth.

I desire that the translation of this missive will be entrusted to my Vazier Abdul Hamid Didi.

With prayers for Your Excellency's long life and prosperity.

His Highness

Muhammad Shamsuddin Iskander, C.M.G.,

Sultan of the Maldives.

Enclosure 3 in No. 9.

TRANSLATION OF THE MISSIVE OF HIS HIGHNESS THE SULTAN OF THE Maldives. YOUR EXCELLENCY,

I HAVE received Your Excellency's missive of 16th December last.

I am glad to know that my beloved son met Your Excellency and that Your Excel- lency found him to be in sound health.

It is a matter of regret to me to find that the new Constitution which we had decided (on 8th March, 1931) to introduce had not yet been given effect to owing to the opposi- tion of the Prime Minister.

I accept Your Excellency's suggestion that a capable officer well versed in Government affairs should come to Malé for a few months, to assist and advise me on administrative matters. Such an official will receive our utmost help and protection while so staying here.

Furthermore, it is my earnest desire that such an officer on arrival here will cause the removal of the Prime Minister for a short period from here to a foreign place, preferably Singapore, where he will be given a suitable allowance from our Govern- ment. I wish specially to inform Your Excellency that the British Government will, at an early date, come to my aid for purpose of maintaining peace and orderly Govern- ment of my dominions.

I pray that Almighty God will shower its choicest blessings on the Great British Government and wish it long life and prosperity in its noble task of removing injustice from helpless and oppressed nations.

With the assurance of goodwill and kind regards,

Dated 4th Rajab, 1350.

SULTAN MUHAMMAD SHAMSUDDIN.

I am,

I remain,

MUHAMMAD SHAMSUDDIN,

Sultan of the Maldives.

Dated 29th Shauban, 1350.

(Corresponding to 8th January, 1932.)

(Corresponding to 14th November, 1931.)

YOUR HIGHNESS,

Enclosure 2 in No. 9.

Queen's House, Colombo, 16th December, 1931.

I WRITE to inform Your Highness that Prince Hassan Izzuddin came to visit me a few days ago. He appeared to be in good health. He handed to me Your Highness's private letter of 14th November, and I discussed its contents with him and Abdul Hamid Didi.

2. I fully share Your Highness's anxiety as to the situation which has arisen as a result of the attempts of the Prime Minister to obstruct the progress of the new Con-

stitution.

3. I have given the matter my most careful thought, and have come to the con- clusion that mere correspondence between Your Highness and myself can achieve nothing towards a settlement of this difficult problem. It appears to me in fact that nothing can be achieved unless Your Highness is prepared to adopt a strong line and to compel the Prime Minister to abandon his attitude, which appears to me to be against the law and custom of the Maldives.

4. It has occurred to me that it might assist Your Highness in attaining this object if a British officer, skilled in administration, were to be sent to reside at Malé for a few months in order to advise Your Highness on constitutional and administrative matters.

C. 93026/32 [No. 3].

No. 10.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

(Confidential.)

SIR,

Downing Street, 9th May, 1932

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential despatch of the 15th of February,* on the subject of constitutional changes in the Maldive Islands. I note that it is reported that the opposition of the Maldivian Prime Minister to any constitutional change has so far been successful, and that it is proposed, in order to facilitate the introduction of the proposed changes, that a British officer should be sent from Ceylon to reside at Malé for a few months.

2. I have given this proposal very careful consideration, as it seems to involve an important change in the policy which has so far been pursued in the relations of the Ceylon Government with the Maldives. These relations are governed by letters exchanged between the Governor of Ceylon and the Sultan of the Maldives in 1887. In accordance with those letters the Ceylon Government is only entitled to control the foreign relations of the Islands, and to recognize and install the Sultan; it is expressly

* No. 9.

EVERLIC

RECORD OFFICE

Reference

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