§ 7. Mr. MORRELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state the number of Sinhalese fined for non-payment of the amounts levied upon them under the Ceylon Riots Compensation Ordinance, and also the number of persons imprisoned for non-payment of such fines?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Hewins)I have not yet received this information.
§ 8. Mr. MORRELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a Sinhalese villager, Louis Putna, of Dalugama, owning no property other than a hut, and earning a monthly wage of Rs.25, was assessed to pay Rs.25 in two instalments under the Ceylon Riots Compensation Ordinance; whether, after paying one instalment, he failed to produce more than Rs.10.50 out of the Rs.12.50 due as the second instalment, and was then sentenced to one month's imprisonment; and whether he will issue instructions to prevent the recurrence of such cases?
§ Mr. HEWINSI have no information in the matter, but I will ask the Governor for a Report.
§ 9. Mr. MORRELLasked the Secretary for the Colonies whether all the twenty-two cases of illegal execution alleged in the Sinhalese memorial to have been perpetrated by officers acting under martial law during the Ceylon riots have been fully investigated; if so, whether the evidence proves that nothing illegal or irregular had been done by officers of the Administration in the thirteen cases on which no evidence and no report has been published by the Administration; and, if so, whether he will immediately publish the Report and evidence in these thirteen cases in which the Administration can be shown to have acted correctly with the same fullness and in the same form as the Ceylon Government published the Report and evidence in the nine eases in which the officers of the Administration were found to have administered lynch law?
§ Mr. HEWINSI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to his similar question on the 27th November last. It is not proposed to publish the Reports referred to in that reply.
§ Mr. MORRELLWill the hon. Gentleman give me a specific answer to the last part of the question which asks 713 whether as regards the thirteen cases on which no reports have been published the Government is satisfied that nothing illegal was done?
§ Mr. HEWINSI have dealt with that on several occasions before, and I cannot add anything.
§ Mr. MORRELLIf that is so, and nothing illegal was done, can the hon. Gentleman see whether it will not allay discontent to publish the evidence in these cases?
§ Mr. HEWINSNo, Sir; we decline to publish these Reports.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWhy?
§ Mr. MORRELLOn what grounds?
§ Mr. LEIF JONESCan the hon. Gentleman tell me on what grounds he cannot publish the evidence given in these cases, seeing that in the cases which were investigated the evidence was very damaging to some of the officials concerned?
§ Mr. HEWINSThe right hon. Gentleman will see that it is quite clear that it is contrary to the public interest to publish these Reports.
Mr. CHANCELLORIs the hon. Gentleman determined to force sedition and discontent by refusing to meet these demands?