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to clear up points of doubt. I can hold out no hope that alternative proposals will be laid before the Council "in the event of their not accepting this Scheme but I do not at present think it desirable that official spokesman should do more than cite my despatch of 10th October* on this point.-PASSFIELD.

C. 63230/7/29 [No. 15B].

(No. 668.)

No. 62.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. [Answered by No. 65.]

SIR,

Downing Street, 11th November, 1929. IN paragraph 63 of your despatch of the 2nd June* on the subject of the Consti- tution of Ceylon, you proposed that in future, if the recommendations of the Special Commission are adopted, the style of "Honourable "should be restricted to the Officers of State, the Ministers, and the Judges of the Supreme Court, for local use during their tenure of their respective offices.

So far as I am aware there is no specific authority for the assumption of the style by members of the Legislative Council; it is based on local usage only, I should see no objection to the restriction which you suggest, but I do not think that it is necessary to make provision for it in any formal instrument.

I have, &c.,

PASSFIELD.

115

though in opposition to their personal views is of much interest to me and confirms me in the belief that the proposals are generally acceptable to the bulk of the inhabi- tants of Ceylon in spite of the opposition of certain sections.-l'ASSFIELD.

C. 73230/2/30 [No. 3].

(No. 1034.)

No. 65.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 6th January, 1930.)

MY LORD,

Queen's House, Colombo, 13th December, 1929. WITH reference to Your Lordship's despatch No. 668 of the 11th November, "Honourable " to 1929,* regarding the question of the continuance of the style of Members of the Legislature, I have the honour to refer to the Earl of Carnarvon's despatch No. 210 of the 4th September. 1875, a copy of which is enclosed, and to state that my impression was that any change in respect of the use of this style would require His Majesty's approval.

2. I take this opportunity to mention that, through an oversight, I omitted to include the Speaker of the State Council among the dignitaries enumerated in the 63rd paragraph of my despatch of the 2nd June, whom I would recommend for the privilege of the use of the style of " Honourable stitution.

under the proposed new Con-

I have, &c.,

H. J. STANLEY,

Governor.

C. 63230/7/29 [No. 36].

No. 63.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 6.38 p.m., 16th December, 1929.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 64.]

I

16TH DECEMBER. My telegram of 12th December.† Reform resolution. have been asked by Messrs. E. W. Perera, W. Duraiswamy, and T. B. Jayah, Members of the Legislative Council, to transmit following to you:-

Regina: Legislative Council by 19 votes to 17 accepted the Reform Scheme on 12th December, 1929. Of these one Member declared that he personally strongly opposed the Scheme but voted for it virtually under compulsion; another stated his views were against the acceptance but would notwithstanding vote for it. If Member who accepted under compulsion voted for the rejection the cast- ing vote of the Vice-President would have rejected the Scheme. In these circum- stances true decision of Council not for acceptance but rejection. Beg suspend decision and not impose Scheme till further inquiries. Memorandum follows.- Ends.

(No. 210.)

SIR,

Enclosure in No. 65.

Downing Street, 4th September, 1875.

You will have learnt from the Confidential correspondence that has passed between us with respect to the present limitation in Ceylon of the title Honourable to the Members of the Executive Council that I do not think there is any valid ground for withholding in one of the largest and most important of Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions that public recognition of the position occupied by Members of the Legisla- ture which is attached in Crown Colonies generally to the Members of the Legislative Council.

I have accordingly now the pleasure of informing you that Her Majesty approves of the title of Honourable being borne by all the Members of the Legislative Council of Ceylon. You will of course make it clearly understood that this title is only to be borne by Members of the Council while resident in the Colony.

I am willing to leave it to you to make the public announcement that this title is to be used on such early occasion as in your discretion you may think proper.

Governor,

I have, &c.,

CARNARVON.

The Right Honourable W. H. Gregory,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

C. 63230 /7/29 [No. 87].

No. 64.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

(Sent 2.15 p.m., 31st December, 1929.) [Answered by No. 70.] TELEGRAM.

YOUR telegram of 16th December, Constitution debate. Senders of message may

be informed that object of discussion of resolution in Council was to elicit public opinion. Fact that certain members voted on the instructions of their constituents

‡ No. 63.

*Cmd. 3419.

+ C.63230/7/29 [No. 34]: not printed.

C. 73230/2/30 [No. 4].

No. 66.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATÉ. (Received 20th January, 1930.)

(No. 1062.)

Queen's Cottage, Nuwara Eliya, 23rd December, 1929. WITH reference to my despatch No. 1042 of the 18th December, forwarding

MY LORD,

to Your Lordship a copy of a memorandum by Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan on the

* No. 62.

Cmd. No. 3419.

C. 73230/2/30 [No. 2]: not printed.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference !-

TPELLICO. 882/11

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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