BRITAIN AND the Mandates Transfer

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 112, 24 April 1936, Page 5

BRITAIN AND the Mandates Transfer

FIRE OF QUESTIONS Baldwin Non-Committal as to Future NOT YET CONSIDERED (British Official Wireless.) (Received 24, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April 23. Asked in the House of Commons whether the Dominions had been consulted and had approved the Government’s policy respecting mandated territories and its willingness to consider the transfer of some of them on certain conditions, the Prime Minister, Mr Stanley Baldwin, replied that the Government had frequently stated that it had not and was not considering any transfer at all.

Mr. G. le M. Mander said: “Can the Prime Minister say whether the attitude of the Dominions is exactly the same as that of the British Government?” Mr. Baldwin: I have no reason to believe that it is different.

Mr. Sandys; Is the Prime Minister aware that uncertainty as regards the Government's intentions is causing intense anxiety throughout the Empire?

Mr. Baldwin; I am not. Mr A. R. Wise: Can’t the Prime Minister, when he says lie is not considering any transfer, add: “And will not consider”? Mr. Baldwin: I have answered the question.

Mr. Shinwell. Does the answer mean that there will not be future discussion on the question of mandated territories?

Mr. Baldwin; I am not dealing with the future at all. I have answered the question paper. The “Morning Post’s” political correspondent (according to a Press Association cable) says that a movement in favour of the Government unequivocally refusing to consider the transfer of mandates to Germany is growing. Liberal supporters of the League of Nations have joined forces with Conservative back-beneTiers in dissatisfaction at Mr. J. 11. Thomas’s vague statement on April 21. It is widely felt that if the Government consulted the Dominions she Would discover that they would strongly resist even Ihe suggestion that mandates should be transferred.

The “Telegraph's” Dar-es-Salaam correspondent says that the absence of any British Government pronouncement on Tanganyika’s future, coupled with the confidence of German settlers that their former colony of 360,000 square miles and its 5,000,000 inhabitants will be restored to them, creates growing uneasiness.

Many important interests, particularly gold mining, are suspending operations. Farmers are restive, and the British Indian community intends to appeal to Delhi to take up the matter with London.

A committee representative of all races will present petitions to the Government giving the settlers’ viewpoint, and they intend seeking South African and Rhodesian support.