§ 29 and 3 Commander Marsdenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (I) whether he can make any statement as to the intentions of His Majesty's Government regarding the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine into the workings of the constitution in Ceylon, with a view to effecting changes therein;.
(2) whether he has considered the memorandum signed by the elected and nominated representatives in council of all the indigenous minorities in Ceylon, setting forth suggested changes in the extent of the representation of those communities under any scheme of constitutional change in the colony; and whether he will make a statement on the matter?
31 and 32. Sir Nairne Stewart Sandemanasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he can state 859 the means by which His Majesty's Government propose to implement the pronouncement of the previous Secretary of State for the Colonies that selected changes as suggested could not be expected to produce good results unless they were adopted with the genera/ consent of all the important interests in Ceylon;
(2) whether His Majesty's Government are aware of the complaints of the minority communities in Ceylon of the manner in which the constitution is being worked by the major community; and what are they doing to meet these?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI have received a number of representations from all communities in Ceylon on the subject of the working of the constitution. I hope shortly to publish despatches which have passed between the Governor and myself on the subject, pending which I can make no statement.
Sir N. Stewart SandemanIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that an ex-President of the Council told some of the minority members that if they wanted anything done for internal affairs they must combine with the Cingalese members in trying to get the powers which the Governor refused?
Mr. MacDonaldThe Governor has had many conversations with representatives of the minority communities as well as others while considering questions of constitutional reform, and he will bear these considerations in mind in making proposals to me.
§ Brigadier-General Sir Henry CroftIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that five years ago a Motion was moved in this House urging Parliament to appoint a committee to inquire into the defects of the constitution, which was only defeated by Members of the Government voting against it? Will he therefore not reconsider that proposal?
Mr. MacDonaldThe whole question is under consideration, and the result of our considerations will appear in the despatches when I am able to publish them, which I hope will be in the near future.
33. Sir N. Stewart Sandemanasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government are aware of 860 the widespread and growing fear among large sections of the people in Ceylon that constitutional changes may be in contemplation without the previous appointment and advice of a Royal Commission; and what action he is taking to allay this?
Mr. MacDonaldWhile I have received representations from a small number of individuals and bodies in Ceylon in favour of the appointment of a Royal Commission to advise on constitutional changes, I am not aware that there is at present any wide demand for such an appointment. The whole question is under consideration.
§ 34. Mr. Raikesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of a statement by the leader of the Ceylon State Council and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Ministers that the exclusion of any representatives of the minority communities in Ceylon was deliberately planned by the leaders of the majority community in order to secure a Board of Ministers composed entirely of the members of that community; and what action does he propose to take in this matter?
Mr. MacDonaldI am aware that allegations of this nature have been made; but I have been informed by the Governor that not a single Sinhalese leader with whom he has spoken has expressed himself in favour of a Pan-Sinhalese Ministry.
§ 35. Mr. Raikesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the strong dissatisfaction of the domiciled Indian population in Ceylon with regard to the proposed disfranchisement, in local government elections, of the Indian estate workers possessing residential qualifications; and what steps does he propose to take to meet this?
Mr. MacDonaldI am aware that the Village Communities Bill, passed by the State Council of Ceylon, originally contained a provision depriving certain estate labourers of the franchise in local elections on a racial basis. I was unable to advise His Majesty to assent to a Bill containing such a provision, and an amending Bill, which is not open to the charge of racial discrimination, has now been passed.