MANDATED TERRITORY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 10 February 1936, Page 7

MANDATED TERRITORY

RECENT SPEECHES CAUSE UNEASINESS DECLARATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICY SOUGHT (United Ureas Association- By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 7th February. The debate in the Commons on Mr Lanslmry’s motion in favour of a world economic conference and the references of many speakers to colonial problems, has aroused disquiet in some quarters, which will find expression in both Houses of Parliament in the next few weeks.

Opposition to the implied suggestion in some of the speeches of consideration of redistribution of mandated or colonial territories, is voiced by two schools of opinion, one of which is concerned at the possibility of danger in any transference which might he contemplated to the principle- of trusteeship, to which British Colonial administration generally conforms in practice, and which is embodied more formally in the League mandate system.

The other school repudiates any idea of cession of the responsibilities Britain lias assumed and deprecates doubts which may be created in colonial areas by such discussions. In the House of Lords, Lord Elibank proposes to call attention to “the sense of misgiving and unrest being aroused in the minds of the inhabitants of British colonies by suggestions now being made in letters to the press and elsewhere, for the handing over of British colonies to other nations, either directly or under League of Nations mandates, and to ask His Majesty’s Government to declare their policy in this matter.” The motion will be debated in March.

Next Wednesday in the House of Commons, questions will be addressed both to the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary for the Colonies, asking for assurances from the Government. Mr G. de M. Mander (Lib.) wishes confirmation that the Government has no intention of handing over territories held under British mandate; and Brigadier General Sir H. Page Croft (C.) desires a guarantee that the Government is not prepared to “make British colonies a subject of barter in any world conference.”