EMPIRE AS TRUSTEE

Evening Star, Issue 24916, 14 July 1943, Page 4

EMPIRE AS TRUSTEE

FUTURE OF THE GOLONIES PREPARING FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT (British Official Wireless.) (Rec noon.) RUGBY, July 13. (Replying in the House of Commons to a debate on the Colonel Olivet Stanley (Secretary of State for the Colonies) made an important statement on the Government's .policy regarding' international co-operation m the administration of colonial territories' The Minister reminded the House of Mr Churchill's statement last March that, while the Government was 'convinced that the administration or British colonies must continue to be the responsibility of Great Britain, it was its policy to work in close cooperation with neighbouring and friendly nations. _ , , .: Colonel Stanley continued that it was realised that such co-operation was not onlv desirable but essential under tbe present circumstances and modem conditions of transport. The (British Government would therefore welcome the establishment of machinery which would enable such problems as the security of transport, economics, and health, which transcended the boundaries of political units, to be discussed and solved by common efforts. . "What His Majesty's Government las in mind is the possibility of establishing commissions for certain regions," he added.. "These commissions would'comprise not only States with colonial territories in a region, but also other States which had in the region major strategic or economic interest. While each State would remain responsible for the administration, _of its own territory.* such commission would provide effective permanent machinery for consultation so that the States concerned might work together to promote the well-being of colonial territories. , " An,important consideration in designing the machinery of each commission will be to give the people of colonial territories an opportunity to he associated with its work." It was on such lines that the Government was anxious to collaborate with other countries. The commissions could be set up only as a result of consultation with other countries; especially the British dominions. Some members protested against an ' important statemeut 'of Government policy being left to the end of the Debate. " Colonel Stanley said he had not proposed to raise the matter, but.nearly every member had referred to it, and lie wished to show the general line's on "" which the Government would like to see co-operation developed. MALAYAN STORY. " It will not be until alter its reconquest that the full story of Malaya caii be told," said Colonel Stanley. "It will be a story fuller and truer than that which gained 'currency all too easily at the time of the catastrophe. Soon, I hope to have that opportunity." Colonel Stanley described the educational advance and economic development by which in the fulfilment of our trusteeship we hoped to prepare the various colouies for self-government. "If self-government is to be achieved the Colonial universities and colleges ; will have to play an immense part." .Steps must be taken urgently to reduce the mass of. illiteracy. The report of the advisory educational committee •would shortly be presented* to the , House.,, Success could not be achieved and illiteracy could not be solved ex r cept by the expenditure of large sums, and it required a community as well as n Government effort. Dealing with tbe plans for economic development,' Colonel Stanley said that unless we succeeded in giving "the ; colonial peoples a reasonable standard of life, talk about self-government was humbug.■'. The passage of the Colonial, Development Welfare Ant provided a new opportunity for development. He declared that it Hvas impossible to overestimate the part air ' transport would play in the development of the Empire after the war. We should start' with some advantages. _ He hoped' shortly to set up a colonial economic advisory committee' to deal with the broad policy of economic development on general lines. Colonel Stanley said that he felt no inclination to apologise for a colonial empire. Even its critics must admit that we had brought millions of people security for their life, property, and au even-handed justice they had never known before.