§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)asked the Secretary of State for the the Colonies if he could state the circumstances under which Mr. Cecil John Reginald Le Mesurier was dismissed from the Civil Service of Ceylon after 20 years' service; and whether he was aware that grave dissatisfaction prevailed amongst the Mahomedan inhabitants of Ceylon owing to the treatment accorded to Mr. Le Mesurier?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have received a memorial signed by about 9,000 Mahomedans in Ceylon complaining of the dismissal of Mr. Le Mesurier from the public service, but I understand that the signatures do not include those of the most influential members of the Mahomedan community. On 23rd January last the Mahomedan Member of the Legislative Council asked a question relative to the matter in order to clear up a misunderstanding then prevailing among a considerable section of Mahomedans—"Whether the dismissal of Mr. Le Mesurier, an officer of the Civil Service, was the outcome of his conversion to the faith of Islam or of any other illegal acts of his own? "The acting Colonial Secretary replied in these words:—Sir,—In reply to the hon. Member's question, I have to state that the cause of Mr. Le Mesurier's dismissal from the public service of Ceylon was not that he professed the Mahomedan 1236 faith, but that, in purporting to marry a lady by Mahomedan rites while his legal wife is alive, and not divorced, he has acted in a manner which renders it impossible to retain him in the public service." Whereupon the Mahomedan Member expressed himself as follows:—"Sir, I am perfectly satisfied with the answer to my question, and it is gratifying to know the attitude of Her Majesty the Queen's Government in tolerating religious differences."
§ MR. W. REDMONDasked whether it was not a fact that Mr. Le Mesurier had served for 20 years in the Civil Service of Ceylon, and no allegation of want of efficiency had been made against him, and whether under those circumstances he was to be dismissed without any consideration of his past services?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINWhat the hon. Gentleman says in regard to Mr. Le Mesurier's past services is perfectly true. He has a good record for useful and diligent service for a considerable time in the service of the colony. Under those circumstances, if he should think fit to make an application for consideration in regard to his past services, I should be willing to give it my best attention; but as regards the particular act for which he was dismissed I cannot see that I have any other alternative.