Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether proposals have been made to the Ceylon Government for modifications of the existing Constitution; whether he has modified his procedure for dealing with constitutional changes in any important respects; and whether the proposed Commission to Ceylon will include persons of political experience.
§ Colonel StanleyI would refer my hon. Friend to the Declaration made by His Majesty's Government on 26th May, 1943, which formed part of the reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald) on that date. I would also refer him to the statement I made in reply to Questions in the House on 5th July last. Cer-914W tain points have been raised by the Ceylon Ministers in reference to my statement of 5th July concerning which I am awaiting a despatch from the Governor. Until I have had an opportunity of considering this despatch I am not in a position to make any further statement. As regards the last part of the Question, the constitution of the Commission is now under consideration, but I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the matter.