EMPIRE SACRIFICES?

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18924, 28 January 1936, Page 3

EMPIRE SACRIFICES?

COLONIES PROBLEM OTHER POWERS' CLAIMS LONDON, January 14. The eolouial question, especially overcrowded countries' claims for territories and markets, continues to secure prominence in tlie newspapers. Lord Lugard, a former GovernorGeneral of Nigeria, in an article in the Times regarding the possible sacrifice* which Britain may have to make to nieet other Powers' colonial claims, says, the proposal to transfer British mandates or even colonies and protectorates to a foreign flag, treating the inhabitants as mere chattels, is surely unthinkable' and would involve a breach of pledges repeated: by successive Secretaries of State.

It would be heartbreaking to the men on the spot to see new policies frustrate their work.

"I lam sure," he writes, "that the inhabitants of British mandated territories are emphatically against any change. "What then," asks Lord Lugard, "can Britain offer if some sacrifice is needed to meet the new conditions and preserve the peace of the world? "I suggest that, if other Powers share in a collective effort, Britain should again revert to the traditional policy of the Open Door in her African territories.

"Furthermore the Mandates Commission should be entrusted with the task of seeing that a 'commercial equality' clause is strictly enforced. "That "would involve some adjustment of the Ottawa Agreement, but it is to bo hoped that the Dominions would ibe willing to follow 'Britain by agreeing to the application of the commercial equality clause to their mandates.

Most of the Dominions have little trade with Africa, and consequently the collective adoption of a commercial equality clause would more than recompense Britain and the Dominions for any loss of preference in the African markets. Moreover. the natives would no longer feel (hat i their interests were being sacrificed for the benefit of British merchants."