BRITISH POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1943, Page 4

BRITISH POLICY

IN REGARD TO COLONIES STATED BY MR STANLEY. LINES OF INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) RUGBY, July 13. Replying in the House of Commons debate on the colonies, Mr Oliver Stanley (Secretary for the Colonies) made an important statement of Government policy regarding international co-op-eration in the administration of colonial territories. He reminded the House of Mr Churchill’s statement last March that, while the Government was convinced that the administration of British colonies must continue to be the responsibility of Britain, it was its policy to work in close co-operation with neighbouring and friendly nations. Mr Stanley continued that it was realised that such co-operation was not only desirable, but essential, under present circumstances and modern conditions of transport. The British Government would, therefore, welcome the establishment of machinery which would enable such problems as security, transport, economics and health, which transcended the boundaries of political units, to be discussed and solved by common efforts. “What his Majestys Government has in mind,” said the Minister, “is the possibility of establishing commissions for certain regions. The commissions would comprise not only States with colonial territories in the region, but also other States which have in the region a major strategic or economic interest. While each State would remain responsible for the administration of its own territory, such a commission would provide effective permanent machinery for consultation, so that the States concerned might work together to promote the well-being of colonial territories. An important consideration in designing the machinery of each commission will be to give the people of colonial territories an opportunity to be associated with its work.”

It was on such lines, Mr Stanley continued, “that the Government was anxious to collaborate with other countries. The commissions could be set up only as a result of consultation with other countries, especially the British Dominions.

Some members protested against an important statement of Government policy being left to the end of the debate. Mr Stanley said he had not proposed to raise the matter, but nearly every member referred to it and he wished to show the general lines on which the Government would like to see co-operation developed.