§ 71. Sir Henry Morris-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the advisability of allowing Members of Parliament to be associated with himself in arriving at any final decision as to the future Constitution and Government of Ceylon?
Mr. M. MacDonaldPending the publication of the despatches which have passed between the Governor of Ceylon and myself, I am unable to make any statement as to the procedure to be adopted in considering any changes in the Constitution of Ceylon.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesIs it not a fact that a Parliamentary Commission was sent out to India before each instalment of reform was considered; and will my right hon. Friend bear in mind, also, that a Parliamentary Committee was set up to consider the Government of India Bill?
§ Mr. T. SmithIs any change in the Constitution of Ceylon subject to ratification by this House?
§ 72. Sir H. Morris-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the report of the Donoughmore Commission that the committee system was devised to protect the minorities, he will give an assurance that he will not surrender, by the abolition of the committee system without due safeguards for the minorities, all the minority communities of Ceylon to the rule of the major community; and whether he considers that the period of time, during which the system of government by executive committees has been in force, is sufficient to consider any changes being yet made?
Mr. MacDonaldI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to questions by the hon. Member for Middleton and Prestwich (Sir N. Stewart 1177 Sandeman) and the hon. and gallant Member for Chertsey (Commander Marsden) on 16th November.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesIs it not the case that the Sinhalese majority have objected to the committee system from the commencement of the Constitution; and what are the reasons now, any more than then, for acquiescing in the matter?
Mr. MacDonald; Seven years ago the system had only just been started, and a fair period of trial had not been given to it. We have gathered a good deal of experience during those seven years.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsBefore any changes take place, will the House be given an opportunity of considering them?
Mr. MacDonaldYes, I think the House will be given an opportunity if it wishes to avail itself of it.
73. Sir Nairne Stewart Sandemanasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the demand for the reform of the Constitution of Ceylon was ever debated by the State Council; and, if so, when did the debate take place and what was the nature of the division as far as the various communities were concerned?
Mr. MacDonaldDebates on the Constitution took place in 1932 and 1933. In the former year a number of resolutions calling for an extension of self-government were carried practically unanimously, only certain nominated members dissenting. In the latter year a resolution approving somewhat similar proposals contained in a Memorandum by the Board of Ministers was approved by 34 votes to 14, the majority consisting of Sinhalese members and the minority including all the members representing minority communities except one who declined to vote. So far as I am aware, no proposals for the reform of the Constitution have been debated since 1933.
Sir N. Stewart SandemanHave we not been promised a Debate on the question of the Constitution of Ceylon? It seems a long time since we had a Debate on it, and we might learn a lot from what might be said in the House.
Mr. MacDonaldI can only say that I have not lost sight of that fact also, but I cannot make any further statement pending the publication of the despatches.
79. Sir N. Stewart Sandemanasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will withhold the report of the Governor of Ceylon on the suggested alterations in the Constitution, to prevent its publication involving him in partisan politics?
Mr. MacDonaldIn 1923, and again in 1929, when the alteration of the Ceylon Constitution was under consideration, the reports and recommendations of the Governor were published without the ill effects which my hon. Friend anticipates on this occasion. I see no reason why the recent correspondence with the Governor should not be similarly published in due course.
Sir N. Stewart SandemanHave not recent events proved that opinions are now running very high, and that communal feeling has had time to develop; and is it wise to bring the Governor into this sort of dispute with someone or other?
Mr. MacDonaldI am aware that feeling is running fairly high on certain matters in Ceylon, but I think that the respect in which the Governor is held is universal among all members of all communites.
§ Sir J. Wardlaw-MilneWhile agreeing with my right hon. Friend's statement with regard to the respect in which the Governor is held, may I ask whether it is not a consideration which my right hon. Friend should bear in mind that His Excellency the Governor is a very new Governor, and has had but a very short experience there?
80. Sir N. Stewart Sandemanasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the desirability of ascertaining the views of the previous Governor and of officers of State who have served the Colony for long periods, on the suggested alterations in the Constitution of Ceylon?
Mr. MacDonaldMy predecessors and I have had the advantage of learning the views of the previous Governor and of many officers of long experience of Ceylon on the working of the present Constitution and on the question of possible reforms in it.
Sir N. Stewart SandemanDo their opinions coincide with that of the present Governor, who, as my hon. Friend has just indicated, has only been there for a 1179 year, and was asked, after only six months, to make a report. That seems a very insufficient time to enable him to draw up a report.
§ Mr. ThorneWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to ask the Governor to read the history of the revolution in this country in 1689?
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesWill my right hon. Friend give an assurance to the House that he will take no steps that will diminish in any way the security provided to Ceylon through being in the British Colonial system?
Mr. MacDonaldThe Governor has special powers with regard to that, and I can assure the House that we have that very important question very much in mind in considering the question of reforms.
§ Mr. ThurtleIs there any doubt of the competence of the Governor to report properly on this matter?