§ 37. Mr. LINFIELDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the Governor of Ceylon stated publicly at Jaffna that all his recommendations as regards the reform of the constitution had been sanctioned by the Secretary of State; whether the Governor had the authority of the Secretary of State to make this announcement; and whether it correctly describes the present position as regards the reform of the Ceylon constitution?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have only seen a brief newspaper summary of the Governor's speech at Jaffna on the 13th June, but that summary bears the interpretation put upon it by the hon. Member. The Governor had not at that date received authority from the Secretary of State to make any announcement as to his decisions on the constitutional reforms. The Secretary of State is, in fact, still in communication with the Governor on several questions of importance.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs it not rather unfortunate that the Governor should make these statements at the present critical moment at Jaffna, the centre of one of the sections of the warring communities in Ceylon?