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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.882/11

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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the Indian community in Ceylon in so far as they are affected by the Reforms proposals, may be shown appropriate courtesy and given such assistance as the Secretary of State for India may consider desirable.

His Majesty's Under-Secretary of State for India, Economic and Overseas Department, India Office, London

I have, &c.,

G. S. BAJPAI,

Joint Secretary.

SECRETARY, CEYLON INDIAN ASSOCIATION, COLOMBO, to HIS EXCELLENCY THE VICEROY. DATED 6TH MARCH, 1930. TELEGRAM.

In view of impending visit from Governor of Ceylon to England and the certainty that he will strongly oppose any modification of franchise proposal of which he is author, Ceylon Indian Association earnestly entreats that accredited representative of Indian Government, preferably your Agent in Ceylon, may be deputed to England for two months to explain franchise position to His Majesty's Government. Otherwise the political and economical future of eight hundred thousand Indians in Ceylon will suffer irreparable disaster. If your Excellency so desires we are prepared to depute unofficial representative to co-operate with Indian Agent.

THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, HEALTH AND LANDS, to THE SECRETARY, CEYLON INDIAN ASSOCIATION, COLOMBO.

DATED 21ST MARCH, 1930.

Indian Franchise in Ceylon--Proposed Deputation to England of a Representative of the Government of India.

I AM directed to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram dated the 6th March, 1930, to His Excellency the Viceroy, suggesting that an accredited representative of the Government of India should be deputed to England to explain the franchise position in Ceylon to His Majesty's Government. In reply I am to say that the Government of India have carefully considered your suggestion but do not consider it necessary to send a representative of their own to England. The Right Honourable the Secretary of Slate for India is in full possession of their views and is the proper authority for making representations to His Majesty's Government on all matters affecting Indian interests. Should the Indian Association, however, desire to send a representative of its own to make representations to His Majesty's Government, the Government of India would be glad to ask the Secretary of State for India to show such representative appropriate courtesy and to give him such assistance as he may consider proper.

THE SECRETARY, CEYLON INDIAN ASSOCIATION, COLOMBO, to THE GOVERNMent of India, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, HEALTH AND Lands.

Dated the 29th March, 1930.

I AM in receipt of your letter dated 21st instant, and beg to thank you on behalf of my Association and of the Indians in Ceylon. We are grateful to the Government of India for their vigorous and timely action in safeguarding our just rights. Your letter gives us the hope that even without a representative of the Indian Government in London our interests are safe in the hands of the Secretary of State for India. But as the question is one of paramount importance to us, and as this is the first serious attempt at discrimination against Indians, we have decided to depute the Honourable Mr. I. X. Pereira, the first Indian member in the local Legislative Council, to watch our interests in London during this crucial period.

We appreciate very much your gracious offer to ask the Secretary of State for India to help our representative, and we earnestly ask you to cable to the Secretary of State for India requesting him to extend to Mr. Pereira the necessary guidance and Assistance. The Honourable Mr. Pereira is leaving Colombo on 8th April by, S.S. Chenonceaux.

C. 73230/10/30 [No. 1].

(No. 322.)

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No. 102.

THE-GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 5th May, 1930.)

Queen's House, Colombo, 16th April, 1930. MY LORD,

I HAVE the honour to transmit a letter (with enclosures) addressed to Your Lordship by the Joint Honorary Secretary, Ceylon Workers' Federation and Provident Association, on the subject of the non-Ceylonese franchise under the new Constitution.

I have, &c.,

MY LORD,

Enclosure in No. 102.

H. J STANLEY,

Governor.

Ceylon Workers' Federation and Provident Association,

No. 103, Darley Road, Colombo, 2nd April, 1930.

I HAVE the honour to forward for your Lordship's information a copy of a resolution passed unanimously at a Special Session of the Ceylon Workers' Federation on 1st April, 1930. A copy of the Ceylon Daily News containing a full report of the proceedings is also forwarded.

We may mention that the Ceylon Workers' Federation is the oldest Labour Association in Ceylon having a membership of over six thousand.

The Right Honourable Lord Passfield,

The Secretary of State for the Colonies, Downing Street.

London.

Resolution.

I have, &c

1

S. W. PERERA,

Joint Honorary Secretary

The Ceylon Workers' Federation strongly protests against any attempt to extend the terms of Lord Passfield's proposals regarding the franchise to non-Ceylonese. In the event of any such alteration, the Federation urges that all possible steps be taken to present the successful working of any scheme of Government embodying such modification.

S. W. PERERA, Honorary Secretary.

C. 73230/10/30 (No. 4].

SIR,

No. 103.

COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE.

Downing Street, 28th May, 1930.

I AM directed by Lord Passfield to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd May regarding the proposed visit to this country of Mr. I. X. Pereira as a repre- sentative of the Ceylon Indian Association, and to request you to inform the Secretary of State for India that it is, of course, open to Mr. Pereira as a Member of the Legisla- tive Council of Ceylon, on his arrival in this country, to address such representations us he sees fit direct to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who would not fail to show appropriate courtesy to any Member of the Council who approached him in a Mr. Pereira has in fact applied for and been promised an interview, but is apparently not yet in a position to present his case, pending further reference to Ceylon.

I am. &c.,

proper manner.

A. J. DAWE

* No. 101.