MR. HUMEsaid, be rose to move for Copies of the Correspondence respecting Buddhism not printed by the Committee on Ceylon Affairs in the Appendix to their Reports. The question put by the hon. Baronet the Member for the University of Oxford (Sir R. H. Inglis) a few nights ago upon this subject was one of great importance, and his (Mr. Hume's) anxiety was to prevent the evils that might follow from the violation of any treaty with the natives of Ceylon. He wished these documents to be laid before the House, so that hon. Members might have time to considers how dangerous it would he if any individual, however zealous he might be for promoting Christianity, were to interfere, with the religious ceremonies of the natives of Ceylon.
§
Motion made, and Question proposed—
That there be laid before this House Copies of all the Correspondence respecting Buddhism and the Buddhist Priests, laid before the Select Committee on Ceylon Affairs, and not printed by the Committee in the Appendix to their Reports,
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he fully concurred in what had fallen from the hon. Member (Mr. Hume). He had stated, in answer to the question from his hon. Friend the Member for the University of Oxford (Sir E. H. Inglis), and he had thought it right so to state from what he knew had been stated to the contrary in Ceylon and in this country, that he felt we were bound by treaties, and that whatever course might be taken out of just and proper consideration to the feelings of the Christian part of the community, we were bound to recollect our treaty obligations, and to carry them out in a fair spirit. The hon. Gentleman (Mr. Hume) had expressed his anxiety as to the danger of interfering with the Buddhist people on the subject of their religious ceremonies; and he agreed with the hon. Gentleman that, if there was to be any interference, it should be exercised with the greatest care and caution. But, as regarded the immediate object of the hon. Member, namely, the production of the particular papers for which he had moved, he begged to state that he had felt it to be his duty to make himself acquainted with the contents of those papers. The hon. Member had been a member of the Ceylon Committee, and he no doubt recollected the grounds upon which the Committee drew up their Report and withheld these papers. He (Sir J. Pakington) had not himself been a member of that Committee, consequently the hon. Gentleman must be more conversant with the circumstances than he could possibly be; but he would remind the hon. Gentleman that it was because of the events which had then recently occurred, and the state of excitement which prevailed upon the question, that the Committee thought it prudent not to publish these papers in their Report. The state of things which had induced the Committee to exclude the papers from their Report had now, however, passed away, and, so far as that was concerned, there was no obstacle in the way of producing them. Generally speaking, he was always anxiously desirous of furnishing information to the House, to the utmost extent in his power; and with regard to these papers he should entertain no objection to 826 produce them; but he appealed to the hon. Member to do him the honour of remembering the announcement he made a few evenings ago, that he had given his anxious attention to the subject with the view of putting an end to the differences and unseemly excitement that prevailed in Ceylon with regard to it, and that he was now about to communicate with the Colony in the sanguine hope that a plan might be suggested which would do no injustice to the Buddhists themselves, whilst it would maintain our treaty obligations, and satisfy the just scruples of the Christian portion of the community in the island. He put it to the hon. Gentleman, therefore, knowing, as he did, what were the contents of these papers, whether their production at this moment might not tend to revive excitement both in this country and in the Colony, and thereby do much to mar the attempt he was making to effect a complete and final settlement of the whole matter. He should have no objection hereafter to produce the papers; but he trusted after what he had stated, the hon. Gentleman would not press for them now.
MR. HUMEsaid, he had to express his perfect satisfaction at the frank explanation of the right hon. Baronet the Colonial Secretary. The right hon. Baronet having distinctly stated that the solemn treaties entered into with the Kings of Kandy would be respected by the Government of this country, he (Mr. Hume) had attained the only object he had in view, and would, therefore, withdraw his Motion.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.