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of persons possessing Ceylon domicile of origin, domicile shall not be deemed to have been acquired, for the purpose of qualifying for franchise, by residence of less than 5 years; (c) persons possessing other qualifications referred to under (b) but unable to prove domicile if they can produce certificates of permanent settlement described in paragraph 35 of my despatch.
It is probable that a great majority of persons who could qualify under (c) would in law be domiciled though if their claims to domicile were contested they might, if only on the ground of expense, find it difficult to prove. For persons to whom this difficulty might be insuperable alternative qualification by means of certificates of permanent residence would be available. The requirements of renunciation of claim to special protection rights, privilege or exemption would be of course applicable only to those who resorted to certificates of permanent residence in lieu of qualification by domicile. I should be grateful if you would indicate in what particular this proposal appears to you unsatisfactory.
C. 73230/30 [No. 6],
No. 85.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(Sent 5 p.m., 11th February, 1930.)
TELEGRAM.
CONFIDENTIAL. Your telegram 31st January.*
I
of approve your proposal with regard to franchise. Despatch follows by this week's mail containing amended clause to be substituted for Clause 20 of draft Order in Council enclosed in my Confidential despatch 6th February,†-PASSFIELD.
C. 73230/30 [No. 10].
(No 69.) MY LORD,
No. 86.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 17th February, 1930.)
Queen's House, Colombo, 29th January, 1930. WITH reference to paragraph 24 of Your Lordship's despatch of the 10th October, 1929, on the subject of the reform of the Constitution of Ceylon, I have the honour to inform Your Lordship that I have appointed a Committee composed of the following members to revise the Standing Orders of the Legislative Council :-
The Honourable Sir James Peiris (Chairman),
The Honourable the Attorney-General or his representative,
The Honourable Mr. E. R. Tambimuttu,
The Honourable Mr. G. A. Wille,
The Honourable Mr. C. E. Hawes, with
Mr. C. C. Woolley, Clerk to the Legislative Council as Secretary.
C. 73230/30 [No. 11].
No. 87.
I have, &c.,
H. J. STANLEY,
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 2.10 p.m., 18th February, 1930.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 89.]
18TH FEBRUARY. Following for Cowell. Private and Personal
Governor.
Begins-Your letter 30th January§ regarding Indian franchise. Statement
by Colonial Secretary will be found in Hansard for 11th December. Statement
was made on my authority and correctly interpreted the meaning of paragraph 35 of my despatch. Fact remains that certain privileges secured to Indian labourers by Ceylon legislation can also be treated as obligations on employers, and will therefore remain enforcible by the Ceylon Government (corrupt group) claim- able by Indians who may renounce them in order to obtain certificate of permanent settlement. Maternity benefits, standard accommodation, and probably minimum wage would be examples of this. Freedom from arrest for debt, however, would not be enforcible. Bourdillon on the same occasion made it clear that Indians who can qualify under conditions laid down in 1923 Order in Council will renounce nothing. This point, for which see also concluding portion of my telegram of 31st January,* seems to have been entirely overlooked in India, and proper It is quite appreciation of it will I hope considerably modify Indian attitude. certain that Reform scheme would have had no chance of acceptance by the Legislative Council, and probably would have found very little favour in Sinhalese portion of the country outside Colombo if original franchise proposals had been maintained.-Ends.
**
C. 73230/30 [No. 20].
No. 88.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 3.50 p.m., 28th February, 1930.) TELEGRAM.
28TH FEBRUARY. Ceylon Indian Association have requested me to transmit to you the following:-
Begins Proposal of His Excellency the Governor modifying Donough- more Commission's recommendations regarding franchise to British Indians causes widespread alarm among Indians here as it negatives their most elementary rights of British Citizenship. They beg His Majesty's Government to pre- vent this attempt to render expire meaningless to British Indians by denying them franchise granted to all adults in Ceylon. Claims of Indian labourers strongly advocated by Ceylon Labour Party. Europeans, Tamils, Burghers, Muslims, and large section of Sinhalese supported franchise given to Indians by Donoughmore Commission. Ceylon Legislative Council modifying scheme only added literacy test for all adults without distinction. The attempt of British administration in Ceylon depriving British subjects of most elementary rights of British Citizenship demand prompt intervention of British Parliament.-Ends.
C. 73230/30 [No. 21].
No. 89.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 8 p.m., 4th March, 1930.) [Answered by No. 92.]
TELEGRAM.
Your telegram of 18th Februaryf to Cowell. Indian franchise. Should be glad of your views as to abandonment of requirement of renunciation of protection by Government of India. Indian unable to claim domicile will be required to sign. statement as to permanent settlement in Ceylon and this should in my opinion be sufficient. Formal renunciation of protection would not prevent Government of Indi: from intervening on behalf of any Indian and moreover there could not be any question of placing Indians entitled to vote in worse position under Ceylon Law than those not so entitled. Formal renunciation appears of little advantage and abandonment of requirement which obviously excites opposition might facilitate acceptance of other proposals. PASSfield.
* No. 84.
+ No. 8:
* No. 84.
C. 63230/29 [No. 21]: not printed.
+ Cmd. 3419.
§ No. 82.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
T།
C.O. 882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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