347
C. 53429/28/1 [No. 28].
68
No. 38.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 10.50 p.m., 14th December, 1928.)
TELEGRAM.
CONFIDENTIAL. 14th December. Your telegram of 13th December,* Donough- more Report.
Since I telegraphed on the 3rd of Decembert I have had several further inter- views of which the two last were yesterday. I have thus met most of the Unofficial Members in the Group, and in a few instances as individuals, and I have had also two long discussions in the Executive Council. My attitude throughout has been that I have not summoned these Members but have been willing to see any who wished to come and that the discussions, whilst confidential and non-committal, were to be exploratory rather than negotiatory. My object was to discover whether, consistent with the main principles of the report broadly interpreted, any modification or adjust- ment on important subsidiary points could be suggested which I could recommend to you, not necessarily as preferable in my own opinion to the Commission's relevant proposals, but as likely to facilitate local acceptance of the whole scheme with As conversations progressed, my hopes greatest common measure of agreement. gradually receded, and it is clear to me now that I could not claim support of a substantial majority of Unofficial Members for any amendment which I might put forward. The two principal groups have tended to become less accommodating than at first in their attitude towards each other and towards the points on which each respectively was most at variance with the Commission's scheme.
I will now write my report and will endeavour to complete and forward it by the end of the year. I have sent the Hansard reports of the debate to you in
advance.
Definite offer of Constitution on the lines recommended by the Commission has not yet been made. I propose to suggest for your consideration that, after the receipt of my report, you might make such offer subject to a few minor modifications in detail, and that Unofficial Members present at the Council should be afforded opportunity of accepting or rejecting the offer as a whole. It is conceivably possible that there might be majority for acceptance, though without withdrawal of recorded protest(s) against specific items, responsibility in regard to them being assigned to you. If offer accepted, life of the Council might be extended. If rejected, Council might be dissolved and the offer renewed to the next Council, which, however, having been returned on the present franchise, would not be likely to vary much from predecessors. Widening of the franchise might produce different result but not advisable as imme- diate isolated measure, partly owing to absence of some such safeguard as Commission has recommended and partly because franchise question is most contentious of all. Sin- balese are unwilling to jeopardise their future political predominance resulting from numerical strength and territorial distribution and minority communities seek counter- poise in communal representation and large enfranchisement of immigrant Indians.
69
2. In effect the following motions were adopted :—
VI. Finance.
In the opinion of this House the numerical strength of the next Council need not be in excess of 50 as at present.
Ayes. 11
Noes.
10
Declined to rote.
15
That provision for ministries should be such as not to involve increased taxation. Adopted without a division being taken.
That the salaries of Ministers and of the Speaker should be reduced from Rs.27,000 per annum to Rs.18,000 per annum.
Noes.
Declined to vote.
15 4
Ayes. 17
That the proposed increase in the number of territorial members from 23 to 65 is excessive.
Declined to rote.
17
Ayes.
10
Noes.
9
VIII. Responsible Government,
This Council requests the Right Honourable Secretary of State for the Colonies to advise His Majesty to include in the next Order in Council for a new Constitution a provision indicating a period within or at the expiration of which the people of this Island will be granted full responsible Government.
Ayes.
14
Noes.
10
3. The following motions were rejected
Amendment.
V.
-
Declined to rote. 4
Communal Representation.
That the following be substituted for the two motions appearing in Group V :- That the time is not yet ripe for the abolition of communal representation, and provision should be made in the new Constitution for ensuring in the New Council by way of the elective system the representation both territorially and otherwise of all communities including the Ceylon Tamil Community so as to preserve the existing proportion of representation between the Sinhalese Community and each of the minorities.
The amendment was lost. No division was taken.
That in the opinion of this Council provision should be made for the adequate representation of the Muslim and other recognised minority communities in the Re- formed Council either by the reservation of elected seats or by some other arrangement such as will ensure the election of members of such communities.
Ayes.
12
Noes.
17
Declined to role.
11
C. 53429/28/1 [No. 25).
SIR,
(No. 898.)
No. 39
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 17th December, 1928.)
Queen's House,
Colombo, 27th November, 1928.
Ix continuation of my despatch No. 857 dated 20th November, 1928,‡ I have the honour to enclose a copy of the Minutes§ of a meeting of the Legislative Council held on the 22nd November, 1928, showing further decisions of the Council on motions relating to the Reform of the Constitution.
* No. 37. + No. 34.
C. 53429/28/9: not printed.
§ Not reprinted.
That in the opinion of this Council provision should be made in the proposed Con- stitution for ensuring by means of special electorates or otherwise, the presence in the State Council of Members of the minority communities who shall have equal rights and status with other Members.
Ayes.
12
Noes.
17
VI. Finance
Declined to rote.
11
That this Council regards the scheme proposed in regard to the Constitution of the Ministry and of the State Council as unduly burdensome to the Colony.
Declined to vote.
14
A yes.
9
Noes.
10
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
19
Reference :-
C.O.882/11
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