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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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2nd June,* Constitution, I do not press for preliminary prolongation until the end of the current year if you have strong preference for prolongation forthwith until the end of next year. I would urge, however, that importance of making introduction of reforms explicit upon acceptance by unofficial members may be considered further in the light of my despatch. I am anxious to fix responsibility for acceptance or rejection on them. If they were left to suppose that you would introduce these reforms, even if rejected by them, they might be tempted to reject ostensibly on the ground of disbelief in the committee system and thus retain free hand to clamour for full responsible Government without serious effort to co-operate in trying to make Donoughmore Scheme work. If the Scheme failed to work as in such circumstances would be not unlikely, they would impute whole blame to His Majesty's Government for forcing it on the country against their protest.

C. 63363/29 [No. 4].

No. 59.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 6.10 p.m., 6th July, 1929.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 62.]

5TH JULY. Your teletgram 2nd July.† Budget proposals. I informed the Legislative Council yesterday of proposed new taxation, saying that I attached very great importance to it particularly as the Island was about to make use of its credit for raising loan. I explained that Resolution increasing import duties by one-twentieth would be introduced and that usual Provisional Order under Public Revenue Protec- tion Ordinance of 1921, bringing this increase into operation as from midnight, would be issued forthwith. Resolution was introduced today and defeated, all Unofficials present voting against it. By my direction Acting Colonial Secretary stuted forthwith that under Article 54 of the Order in Council of 1923 I declared the Resolution to be of paramount importance. I consider it essential to insist on provision of additional revenue at least equivalent to debt charges on first instalment of proposed loan which cannot be less than 30,000,000 rupees. After tea interval adjournment of Legislative Council was moved by way of protest but Motion was defeated by 18 to 17. Majority included seven Unofficials. Most of those who had voted in minority then walked out but ordinary business proceeded. Eighteen Unofficial Members have now asked me to transmit the following telegram to you:—

that the Begins: The Motion proposed by the Government this day Customs Duties at present leviable on goods, wares or merchandise imported into this Island shall be increased by an addition thereto of one-twentieth of such duties was rejected by the Council, all Unofficial Members present numbering 27 voting against it, whereupon the Acting Colonial Secretary stated that he had been authorised by the Governor to declare the question to be one of paramount importance and that the Resolution would be passed on official vote. The Unofficial Members beg to enter an emphatic protest against this action taken by the Govern- ment and ask that the Secretary of State he pleased to disallow the above Resolution. A written protest follows. Signed:-D. B. JAYATILAKA, E. R. TAMBIMETTE, D. S. SENANAYEKE, EDWARD W. PERERA, C. W. W. KANKANGARA, 1. X. Pereira, H. M. MACAN MARKAR, W. DURAISWAMY, V. S. de S. WICK- REMANAYEKE, M. M. SUBRAMANIAM, D. H. KOTALAWALA, P. B. RAMBUKWELLE, S. RAJARATNAM. T. B. JAYAH, C. H. Z. FERNANDO, N. H. M. ABDUL CADER, A. MADAHEVA, G. R. de SILVA.-Ends.

""

* C. 63230/29/7 [No. 1]: not printed.

↑ No. 56.

C. 63230/29 [No. 13].

S5

No. 00.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 1 p.m.. 17th July. 1929.)

TELEGRAM

[Answered by No. 61.]

CONFIDENTIAL. Your telegram of 5th July.* Constitution. I have no strong objection to preliminary prolongation to end of current year, though I wished to Have you fully avoid issue of two successive Orders in Council within few months considered danger that acceptance of principle that introduction of reforms is dependent on acceptance by existing Council will be regarded as admission that Council is entitled to reject any scheme not formulated by itself? I should be reluctant to give any undertaking to postpone any constitutional change until it is adopted by Is it clear that Council existing Council elected by small percentage of inhabitants. elected under proposed franchise would necessarily follow existing Council in refusal to co-operate?-PASSFIELD.

C. 63230/29 [No. 14].

No. 61.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 9.50 a.m., 19th July, 1929.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 65.]

CONFIDENTIAL. 18th July. Your telegram 17th July, Confidential.† Con- stitution. In event of offer of new constitution being rejected by the Legislative Council, possible solution might perhaps he appeal to referendum for which roll might be compiled on basis of whatever franchise you might have offered. I thought of this before but hesitated to suggest it in view of formidable difficulties in the way of satisfactory organisation, and conduct of referendum under present conditions here. Notwithstanding risk of confusion, malpractices, and even disorder, I should prefer referendum to introduction of reform without some explicit signification of acceptance by either the Legislative Council or the people. In the absence of prior acceptance of As justification for constitution, wreck tactics would have good chance of success. referendum would be small present electorate, appeal to referendum would presumably have to be substituted for general election and re-submission of offer to the new Council elected under present franchise. In that event life of the present Council might be extended forthwith to the end of next year, subject to dissolution if the result of the referendum were negative.

C. 63363/29 [No. 5].

No. 62.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 5.15 p.m., 19th July, 1929.)

TELEGRAM.

Your telegram of 5th July. Unofficial Members who signed protest cited may be informed that I await their written protest, but that the policy of imposing additional Customs duties had my prior approval and that there is no prospect that I shall see any ground for questioning your decision.-PASSFIELD.

C. 63230/29/4 [No. 3].

SIR,

No. 63.

ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE. [Answered by No. 67.]

Admiralty, S.W.1, 31st July, 1929.

WITH reference to your letter dated 13th May, 1929,§ I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will inform the Secretary

§ No. 51.

* No. 58.

† No. 60.

† No. 59.