CO885-11 — Page 568

502

. PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:--

TELLICO. 882/11

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

C. 83230/31 [No. 11].

186

No. 139.

THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT to THE SECRETARY

OF STATE.

(Received 1.6

p.m.,

20th February. 1931.)

TELEGRAM.

20TH FEBRUARY. No. 40. Confidential. In order to meet wishes of Muslims I recommend following proviso be added to sub-clause 4, Clause 36, of draft Ceylon (State Council Election) Order in Council-third revise-which accompanied Stanley's Confidential despatch (3) 10th February*:

-

Begins: Provided Governor may, by notice published in Government Gazette, order that in the case of any polling station reserved exclusively for the use of female voters, no male Polling Agent shall be admitted to polling station during hours of polling.-Ends.

Further please correct printing error in first line of paragraph 89 third revise State Council Order in Council. Wording should be as in first line of paragraph 88 second revise.

C. 83230/31 [No. 12]

DEAR SIR,

No. 140.

MR. B. FELL. (HOUSE OF COMMONS)

to

MR. H. R. COWELL (COLONIAL OFFICE).

House of Commons, 23rd February, 1931. In reply to your letter of 20th February, as to the precedence to be given to the Speaker of the Ceylon State Council, my opinion is that it is most important to attach all possible prestige to the office of Speaker, and that he should be given prece- dence over all Ministers (but not over Officers of State) The importance of securing as the first occupant of the Chair, the best and most suitable person cannot be over- estimated, as it will fall to him to establish the position of Speaker on a proper basis for all time to come. Unless the Office is made sufficiently attractive, from the point of view both of the precedence of its holder and its material rewards, it is almost certain that the Speaker will not command the confidence of the Assembly, and his decisions will be wanting in that impartiality which is essential in conducting the busi- ness of such an Assembly.

Of course the prestige will be further enhanced by the wearing of robes and the use of the ceremonial Mace.

Yours, &c.,

BRYAN FELL. Perhaps we might have a copy of the Order in Council, when issued, and any Standing Orders made under it.-B. H. F.

C. 83230/31 [Nos. 8-10].

No. 141.

COLONIAL OFFICE to [ADMIRALTY] [WAR OFFICE] [AIR MINISTRY]. [Answered by Nos. 151, 149, and 147.]

SIR,

Downing Street, 25th February, 1931. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 17th February, 1930,† and subsequent correspondence on the subject of the proposed new Constitution for Ceylon, I am directed by Lord Passfield to transmit to you a copy of a revised draft

* C. 83230/31 [No 141: not printed. + No. 138. ‡ C. 63230/29 [No. 29]; not printed.

187

of an Order in Council,* and of revised drafts of the consequential Letters l'atent and Royal Instructions which have been prepared by the Governor of Ceylon on the basis of the drafts sent to you in the letter under reference.

2. The draft Order in Council has been divided into two parts, but it has not been thought necessary to trouble you with the second part of the Order which con- tains only provisions relating to the conduct of elections.

3. Lord Passfield will be glad to receive at an early date any observations which the [Lords of Admiralty] [Army Council] [Air Council] wish to offer on these drafts. 4. The drafts are under examination in this Office, and it is hoped to submit final drafts to His Majesty at the next meeting of the Privy Council, since it is desirable that arrangements should be made for a general election to be held in Ceylon under the new Constitution at an early date. Lord Passfield will be glad, therefore, if your reply to this letter may be sent as soon as possible.

C. 83230/31 [No 15].

No. 142.

I am, &c.,

FI. R. COWELL.

THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 2.30 p.m., 26th February, 1931.) TELEGRAM.

26TH FEBRUARY. No. 42. Confidential. Please see penultimate sentence of paragraph 7 of Stanley's despatch No. 261 of the 31st March, 1930,† I have acceded to request that all members of the Legislative Council should be consulted confidentially in regard to statement of administrative procedure for Executive Committees. This statement like Article 39 (1) of draft (State Council) Order in Council third revise provides that Executive Committees shall exercise general supervision over Depart- ments. In the course of discussion on the statement, suggestion was made that the word “control "be substituted for the word "supervision" in defining relations between Executive Committees and Departments. I see no objection and recommend that "control" be substituted for supervision " in the first and third lines of Article 39 (1) of the Order in Council.

C. 83230/3/31 [No. 2A).

No. 143.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

(Sent 3.30 p.m., 26th February, 1931.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 145.]

No. 47. CONFIDENTIAL.

Order in Council second revise consider that first

six lines of Clause 22 one (a) are redundant and should be omitted. In present form Clause does not appear to provide for giving effect to vote which does not require approval of Ministers, e.g., which is function of Officer of State. Do you agree.- PASSFIELD.

Not reprinted here.

+ No. 71.

188