BRITISH MANDATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22405, 29 April 1936, Page 13

BRITISH MANDATES

POLICY OF GOVERNMENT TRANSFER NOT CONSIDERED British Wireless RUGBY, April 27 It is understood that the group of Conservative members of Parliament, which has been formed with a view to securing official assurances against the future transfer of League mandates held by Britain intends to take every opportunity of raising the matter in the House of Commons. To-day a question was addressed to the Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, who made a statement in reply. He began by recalling the genesis of the mandates, and pointed out that there were 110 provisions, either in the Covenant or the Peace Treaty, or in the mandates themselves, relating to the transfer of a mandate from one Power to another, and no such transfer had ever been made. The Prime Minister stated that he was advised that before any such transfer could be effected it would be necessary to secure the consent at any rate of the present mandatory Power and the Power to whom the territory was to be transferred, as well as the unanimous consent of the league. He said he hoped that made it clear that the question of a transfer of mandates was one which, if it were to be contemplated, would require most careful consideration, and be subject to procedure of a very elaborate nature. It was not a matter which in any circumstances could be subject to any sudden or any hasty decision. With regard to the policy of the British Government, Mr. Baldwin said he would repeat in the most categorical terms that it had not considered, and was not considering, the transfer of any mandated territory to any other Power. A great deal of the apprehension which members claimed to exist on the subject must be due to the belief that the Government had already been considering such a possibility, notwithstanding the denials which had been given, and that the House might at some stage be faced with a decision. That apprehension was unfounded, said Mr. Baldwin, and members might rest assured that the Government had no intention whatever of raising the question itself. In the event of any question arising regarding the future status of mandated territories, the Government would not commit itself to any settlement of the problem at issue without giving the fullest opportunity for discussion by the House.