MANDATED TERRITORY

Evening Star, Issue 25698, 23 January 1946, Page 5

MANDATED TERRITORY

SOUTH AFRICA'S ATTITUDE

SPIRITED REPLY TO MR FRASER (Rec. noon.) LONDON, Jan. 22. A spirited defence by Mr Teaton Nicholls of South Africa's attitude to mandated territories marked the meet- . ing to-day of the United Nations Trusteeship Committee. Mr Nicholls was replying to criticism by Mr Peter Fraser. The Preparatory Commission's report on trusteeship was not' unanimous, said Mr Nicholls, and some delegations reserved the right to raise the matter in the Assembly. The confusion of thought arose because all mandates were lumped together. | He reminded the committee that ' there were three kinds of mandates, and there were some so ; backward that they could not be expected to govern themselves. Even among these there was a wide variety. For example, Samoa was just a little hothouse for experiment in administration—v no matter what happened there, New Zealand's destiny could not be affected. What experiment was carried out there could not matter twopence to New Zealand. NO EXPLOITATION. Mr Nicholls said that in Africa it was different. The European administrations in Darkest. Africa had conferred benefits on the people, but if African territories were to be lifted up to standards comparable with those of Europe vast sums would have to be extracted from European taxpayers. He refuted the suggestion that the mandatories were there to exploit the people for self-aggrandisement. They were there on a mission of mercy. He emphasised that there were no obligatory provisions in the Charter concerning the trusteeship of territories. South Africa's position was not ambiguous. South Africa was entitled to make a reservation for South-west Africa. This differed from any other mandate, inasmuch as it formed part of a metropolitan area. He traced the territorial and historical background, including the United Kingdom s deal with Germany for it against the Cape Province's protest, and the growth of Nazism among the German population there before the recent war. South Africa coud not agailn allow herself to be threatened by the position which existed during the last 25 years._ It was necessary to have the territory more closely affiliated to the Union. Mr Nicholls said the territory now had a self-governing Legislature, and_ asked South Africa for ■ incorporation in the Union, but the Government' hesitated to give • the least breath of suspicion that it was' exercising pressure, and the request was not acted upon. South Africa, under the Charter, would negotiate with Southwest African Europeans and natives, and no doubt they would freely express their will for incorporation. Evidence of desire for incorporation would be submitted to U.N.O. Mr Fraser said Mr Nicholas's statement removed much ambiguity. Mr Nicholls said: "All I have authority to say is that the Union Government is taking steps to inform itself of European aild native- opinion in the territory. It will then decide on its action and the United Nationi will be informed." Mr Fraser said.that at least he recognised the moral right of informing the world through the Assembly of what had been done. He regretted if any Mandatory Power had construed anything he said yesterday as reflecting on its adminis- N tration. All he wanted to do was to get recognition from the nations of the Trusteeship Council as heir to the Mandates Commission and see what new arrangements could be made. OLD IMPERIALISM DEAD. Mr Creech Jones (United Kingdom), before Mr Nicholls spdke, said it would be more profitable if the committee, instead of debating the attitude of France and South Africa, would immediately begin the task of recommending steps for the establishment of the trusteeship system. There were sufficient declarations from the Mandatory Powers for making a start, and the United Kingdom was prepared! to give the system all the support within her power.. There were still some suspicions about colonial Powers, especi- ' ally mandatories, but as' far as the United Kingdom was concerned any idea that their territories or colonial estates were to be exploited for the metropolitan territory was dead. It should be realised that the old Imperialism was dead. The United! Kingdom's approach to mandates-was one of constant service to the peoples. She had been constructive in discharging mandates with very little material gain and much material cost to the British taxpayers. She approached the task with the idea of creating more happiness and freedom for the peoples, and promoting their prosperity. She in future was prepared to apply the Economic and Social Council's measures to territories as applied by the 1.L.0. measures in the past. The Assembly should ask the mandatories to inform the SecretaryGeneral whether theyiihtended to transfer the territories to the Trusteeship Council, and/ the Secretary-General should inform such Powers that it was imperative the steps necessary, for the transfer should he taken now. : The committee should see that all the United Nations having colonies and dependencies made declarations , concerning voluntary transfer to the council. That was the opportunity which those who criticised 'British Colonial Administration should not neglect. # M. Farid Zeineddin (Syria) said France stated she would give the , peoples of mandated territories the same right as Frenchmen, but she gave it only to those assimilated as Frenchmen. Assimilation undermined mandated peoples' culture, which the mandatories were under an obligation to develop. He praised Mr FraserV statement yesterday, and urged that if territories were not given independence they be placed under trusteeship.