§ Mr. ALLEN PARKINSONasked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the resolutions expressing lack of confidence in the Governors passed by the Ceylon National Congress; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
Mr. R.RICHARDSONasked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that at the extraordinary session of the Ceylon National Congress recently held in Colombo resolutions were unanimously passed rejecting the reforms in the Constitution of Ceylon, announced in this House, as inadequate, reactionary, and an affront to the people of Ceylon; whether the reasons given for this decision were that the changes proposed involve a limitation of the right of free discussion, an increase in the autocratic powers of the Governors, the imposition of humiliating disabilities on Members of the Legislative Council, and the denial of even initial steps towards responsible government; whether the Congress further resolved to boycott the forthcoming elections; and whether, in view of the public dissatisfaction which exists in Ceylon, the Secretary of State for the Colonies will reconsider the scheme of reforms and introduce such Amendments at an early date as will meet the desires of the people as far as possible?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYThe Secretary of State has received several resolutions from the Ceylon National Congress expressing dissatisfaction with the proposed scheme of constitutional reform, but as these resolutions were 403W passed before the publication of the complete scheme and the Secretary of State's explanatory despatch, and before the Governor of Ceylon had had an opportunity of making clear the provisions of the reforms, the Secretary of State does no consider it necessary to take any action. The resolutions obviously misrepresent the considerable advance that the reforms involve in the direction of popular control.