BRITISH MANDATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 11

BRITISH MANDATES

QUESTIONS IN COMMONS NO TRANSFER CONSIDERED British Wireless RUGBY, April 23 The Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, was asked in the House of Commons to-day whether the Dominions had been consulted regarding and had approved the Government's policy respecting mandated territories and its willingness to consider the transfer of some of them on certain conditions. He replied that the question indicated a misapprehension. The Government had frequently stated that it had not considered, and was not considering, any transfer. It followed, therefore, that consultations with the Dominions had not arisen. Mr. G. Mander (Liberal—Wolverhampton East): 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 it is different. Mr. D. Sandys (Conservative —Norwood): Is the Prime Minister aware that the uncertainty in regard to the Government's intentions is causing intense anxiety throughout the Empire? Mr. Baldwin:- I am not. Mr. A. R. Wise (Conservative— Smethwick): Can the Prime Minister, when he says the Government is not considering any transfer, not add, "and will not consider it"? Mr. Baldwin: I have answered the question. Mr. E. Shinwell (Labour —Seaham): Does the answer mean there will not be future discussions on the question of mandated territories? Mr. Baldwin: I am not dealing with the future at all. I answered the question on the paper.

The political correspondent of the Morning Post says the movement in favour of the Government unequivocally refusing to consider the transfer of mandates to Germany is growing. Liberals and supporters of the League of Nations have joined forces with the Conservative back-benchers in dissatisfaction with the vague statement made on the matter by the Colonial Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, on Tuesday. It is widely felt that if the Government consulted the Dominions it would discover that they would strongly resist even a suggestion that mandates be transferred. FRENCH INTERESTS NO SURRENDER POLICY OFFICIAL DECLARATION PARIS, April 23 M. Trintard, director of the Mandated Territories Department, says France would no more think of giving up her mandated territory than would Britain. The number of natives had increased by 300,000 under French mandates, and France would not think of exposing them to German racial theories.