The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, MAY 9, 1936. CLAIMS TO COLONIES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1936, Page 4

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, MAY 9, 1936. CLAIMS TO COLONIES

The full report of the debate in the Commons in February on .the .subject of colonial claims, is. interesting as showing both the trend and too divi* si on of thought on the subject in res 'ect to the imnudated territories. The matter was raised by Mr Lansbiirv who in arguing the need lor a new international conference ”To deal with the necessity for access to raw materials awl to markets, and

for the migration of people’s.” confined himself to generalities, and said he was not asking the British Empire to be shared out. Another Lahour member. (Bermondsey) declared tliat there must be a voluntary economic reorganisation- of the world, and described the .Biitish policy ot “what we have, we hold,” as selfish greed. Mr Lloyd George considered there would not bo peace in the ’ world until mandates were reconsidered. Ho made rather a bad break by referring to Belgium, Holland and Portugal—owning extensive colonial possessions—but these were not mandated, being acquired as colnies in the ordinary way. The general view of the nation appeared to e expressed by Mr Amefy (an exVlinister) who pointed out that the essence of the mandates was Britain’s obligation a. d trust to the peoples concerned in the. mandated territories. Would it be better fulfilled, he asked, hv handing them over to Germany •n any other Power that wished a larger economic field? Why could not •••ho countries faced with economic difficulties, hg suggested, enter i’.to an arrangement with the groat mar- x >cets of, Central Europe for mutual trade and , mutual preference, and | thus follow amongst European coun tries the good example wjiich the na lions of the British, Empire had set to the world in its inter-Empire trailing compacts? On behalf of the Government it was stated that an international discussion cn the issue would -be valuable, but- the time aid not appear propitious' for an inline rliate world epnfere.ee. Anv failure 1 to achieve results' would -be disastrous The Government had commenced a preliminary examination of the problem; hot they could'not fix the date for .any further negotiation urit’’ .circumstances permitted. Another member Remarked that ary Government that gave the impression that Britain had become so weak-kneed as to offer. to give b.mk the mandated territories or even to place all the ■colonies under the mandate of the League of would* be remo\- | ed front power*by the people. It was j not wise to tell the country cr the world that these problems could be solved by any idea >that the raw materials of the British Empire were. going to be made more accessible The speaker believed that if a poll were taken of the . natives in any country under the British Flag, t’ ey would express on- almost unanimous ■desire fir remain in under British rule. Later, in reply to a question the Secretary of State stated definitely that the Government had rot considered and was Tiot considering the handing over »of any of the British colonies or teritories held under mandate. This, of course, does not - e.v.a the matter, and the subject will crop up again. Recently an., eminent German remarked on the colonial question: “ff it is really true that England' contemplates giving away ray of her colonies it will’ be. a bad aav for Europe,, for everyone will khov that the British Empire is no. longer strong enough to hold her possessions, -and that means war all over the world.” That, it will be admitted, is suggestive comment.