CONTROL OF MANDATES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 121, 23 April 1936, Page 9

CONTROL OF MANDATES.

AN EMPIRE POLICY. MR THOMAS’S OBSERVATIONS. LONDON, April 21. In reply to a Uriel uebate in the House or Commons on mandated territories, Mr J. 11. Thomas (Colonial Secretary) said: “I want Germany and every other foreign country to understand clearly that it would be contrary to facts to state that they do not enjoy all the advantages and privileges wo enjoy. Secondly, we have administered our trust equitably, and the natives for whom we are responsible welcome our administration. Thirdly, if the question of transferring any mandate ever arises it will not be a question for us alone. Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa have mandates, and so far as the British Government is concerned it will not consider handling over any mandates unless the whole question of Empire mandates is also reviewed.

“There is also the question of mandates affecting France and Belgium. We are not considering the question at present. It has not arisen and will not be raised by us,” Mr Thomas said.

Mr Thomas added that Germany had never regarded the mandated territories Britain now held as colonies for expansion. Only an infinitesimal' percentage of German people, apart from* officials, had ever before the war been in any of the mandated territories. Moreover, Germany was at liberty to obtain any raw materials she wanted from mandated territories and on precisely the same terms as Britav. If she preferred to spend her money in other directions that was her business. She could not blame Britain. ». . Mr Winston Churchill regretted that Mr Thomas had given the impression that this had not closed the question. It was a question on which the Government should have a clear and resolute conviction. The door ought not to be flapping to and fro.