57 



ance bodies in Ceylon and in England, had in a 'great measure 

 successfully opposed the excise policy of the Local Government. 



The arrest and imprisonment, without charge, of the most 

 prominent Temperance leaders, men of tried fidelity to the Crown 

 and unblemished character, lends colour to this suggestion. 



Speaking with a full sense of responsibility on behalf of a 

 loyal nation, who are fully alive to the privileges of citizenship 

 in a free Empire, the proceedings above referred to are calcu- 

 lated to create distrust in the fair administration of justice. I 

 may be allowed to call your attention to one recent exhibition 

 of this fidelity in the crisis of the Empire. Not satisfied with 

 the equipment of a European contingent for the front, the people 

 of Ceylon clamoured for active participation in the war against 

 His Majesty's enemies. The Secretary of State sanctioned a 

 contingent, to consist of 100 Ceylonese, on the recommendation 

 of the Governor, Sir Robert Chalmers. Men were forthcoming, 

 and passed the test required, but, unfortunately, the Brigadier- 

 General, H. H. L. Malcolm, who appears to be misinformed in 

 regard to the capacity of the Ceylonese for military service, im- 

 posed a further test on the Ceylonese selected, that they should 

 hold with their stretched-out right arm a rifle by the small of 

 the butt, retaining it in a horizontal position for sixty seconds. 

 As a large number could not pass this severe test, the contingent 

 fell through. This was a grievous disappointment to the people 

 of the island, whose feelings had been previously hurt by a state- 

 ment made by the Brigadier-General when addressing the Euro- 

 pean Town Guard, that the Ceylonese did not come of fighting 

 stock, and would not be fit even to protect the city in case of 

 invasion. The Ceylon Volunteer Force, of which the Colonel- 

 in-Chief is His Majesty the King, mainly consists of Ceylonese, 

 and holds a high record for marksmanship and efficiency. These 

 remarks were felt to be a reflection on all the Ceylonese races, 

 with whose traditions and history the Brigadier-General appears 

 to be unacquainted. This disappointment was given expression 

 to in a loyal demonstration of protest at a meeting of the 

 Ceylonese National Association, a well-recognised and represen- 

 tative institution. The Hon. Mr. K. Balasingham sought to re- 

 move the impression by proposing in Council a resolution to 

 create a " Ceylonese Army," for the consideration of which the 

 Governor nominated a Committee of the Legislative Council. 



