CO885-11 — Page 570

564

"C

190

persons holding public office in the Island "would not, in Lord Passfield's opinion, include members of the Imperial Forces, nor would the expression "public officer do so.

A copy of this correspondence will be sent to the Officer Administering the Government of Ceylon.

No. 151.

I am, &c.,

H. B COWELL.

17

191

Order in Council. It is argued that Article XXIV does not apply as expression "vacancies amongst elected members must be interpreted in the light of Article 15 which describes manner in which vacancies can occur and does not mention vacancies by reason of lack of candidates. Attorney-General considers that we are quite safe in relying on Article XXIV. Nevertheless I consider it desirable that Order in Council should be amended as it would create awkward situation if question were raised in I therefore State Council itself at the first meeting, as almost certainly it would. request His Majesty's early authority to make by Proclamation under Article 97 (2) following addition to Article XXIV:-

Begins:- -" Whether any such vacancies amongst the elected members have been caused by the absence in any electoral district of a candidate for election or by any other circumstances whatsoever."—Ends

C. 83230/31 [No. 22].

ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

SIR,

Admiralty, S.W.1, 10th April, 1931. WITH reference to your letter of the 25th February,* concerning the proposed new Constitution for Ceylon, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that They have no observations to offer on the revised draft Order in Council or the revised drafts of the consequential Letters Patent and Royal Instructions which have been prepared by the Governor of Ceylon.

No. 152.

I

am, &c.,

CHARLES WALKER.

C. 88230/7/31 [No. 17].

(No. 428.)

MY LORD.

No 154.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Received 15th June, 1931.)

Queen's House, Colombo, 26th May, 1931.

WITH reference to Your Lordship's despatch No. 188 of the 23rd April, 1931.* I have the honour to inform Your Lordship that the Letters Patent dated the 22nd April, 1931, and the Royal Instructions bearing the same date were published in the Ceylon Government Gazette Extraordinary of the 29th April, 1931, and came into operation as from the same date.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :—

TPELLICO. 882/11

miniminiu

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

0. 83230/7/31 [No. 13].

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. [Answered by No. 154.]

(No. 188.) SIR,

Downing Street, 23rd April, 1931. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the accompanying Letters Patent passed under the Great Seal of the Realm and dated the 22nd of April, 1931, constituting the Office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Island of Ceylon and its Dependencies. These Letters Patent should, as directed in the 16th Clause, be pub- lished in the Ceylon Government Gazette and, as further directed in that clause, & Proclamation should be issued by you and published in the Gazette notifying the date on which they are to come into operation I should be glad to be informed in due course of the dates of publication and of coming into operation of these Letters Patent. 2. I have also to transmit to you the accompanying instructions† under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet dated the 22nd of April, 1931. These instructions come into force on the same date as the Letters Patent, and in accordance with the last clause should also be published in the Government Gazette.

3. Sealed copies of the Ceylon (State Council) Order in Council, 1931,† and the Ceylon (State Council Elections) Order in Council, 1931,† which were passed on the 20th of March last are now available and are enclosed herewith.

C. 83230/31 [No. 26].

No 153.

I have, &c.,

PASSFIELD

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 5.14 p.m., 18th May, 1931.) TELEGRAM.

No. 111. CONFIDENTIAL. 18th May. My telegram of 16th May, No. 110.‡ It has been suggested in article in Ceylon Daily News legality of proceedings of State Council may be questioned on the grounds, no member having come forward for certain constituencies, State Council will not be constituted as laid down in Article VII of

‡ No. 165.

* No. 141.

↑ Not reprinted.

I have, &c.,

GRAEME THOMSON,

Governcr.

STANDING ORDERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Revision of Standing Orders.

C. 83230/12/81 [No. 5],

No. 155.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 8.50 p.m., 30th June, 1931.) TELEGRAM.

No. 130. YOUR Confidential despatch of 27th May.† I approve of draft Standing Orders subject to consideration of the following changes

*

Clause 1 is based on Clause 52 of Model Standing Orders, but I consider it essential that Sub-Clause 2 of Clause 52 should be included.

+2

Clause 4. Suggest provision that "Clerk shall preside instead of " act as Chairman.'

$5

Clause 5. No provision is made for an ultimate tie in votes.

Clause 6 appears to bind the Governor personally to receive Speaker Elect. In order to provide for possibility of illness, suggest alternative for first sentence to following effect :-" On message being received from Governor Speaker Elect shall present himself to Governor or person appointed by him at such time and place as may be stated in message.'

"7

Clause 8. From ceremonial point of view consider it preferable that members should take oath one by one.

Clause 11. Suggest provision that no amendment or debate shall be allowed. Clause 16. No provision is made for proceedings subsequent to address by the Governor. It should be definitely stated whether reply to address can be debated.

* No. 152.

† C. 83230/12/31 [No. 1]: not printed.