MANDATES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18896, 11 January 1927, Page 9

MANDATES.

1 .' w "■ BRITISH REPLY TO THE COMMISSION. SUPERFLUOUS QUESTIONS. ■yjtoii our qwk cojww»f<arpwrr.) LONDON, November 2r. The Geneva correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" describe* the British Government's memorandum to tho Secretary-General of the league of Nations of November Bth regarding the Questionnaire 6ent to the Mandatory Powers by the Mandate* and regarding the hearing of petitioners, by the Mandates Commission m being considered in League oirc|ei to bo a very clear and dignified statement, It rccalb that the object of the annual reports of the Mandatory Powers is to sati&fy the Council of the League as to the moral *nd material situation of the inhabitant* of territories under mandate, but clearly th© Council is not called upon to oheok and esfnniino 9 very detail oY administration, «or can it have the jneana to discharge such a herculean task. The Council's duty is to see that the administration of the mandated territories is conducted generally in accordance with the ideas enunciated in Article 22 of the Covenant..TTjo reply continues:

The Mandatory Government* of the British Empire feel that tho proposes now put forward by the Mandate (Sor* 1 mission regarding the two a-hoTe options are based on a misconoeptioß pi the duties and responsibilities erf the Commission and the CqunoU, flfr Majesty's Government submit Jihat the < list of Questions, comprising, as it daea, over 280 questions, extending to •ve« r detail of government and t on, far exoeede what is necessary to the Commission or what ia compatible with the intentions of tho Covenwt. Aniong them are questions renting to points on which, according to British practice, itself the result of unettuajlod experience in many different countries and conditions, the Homo Government would not think it wise to interfere with the Colonial Administration. D^\^l? Gowmments of the British Empire havo shown themselves en*iou« at all time* to afford to tlie Commission al the informMon material to tho discharge of its responsible duties, hut they submit thftt this purpose would be ajnply eocured. for the : future if the hst of questions wow limited to its subject Wdjryra and th* «Jtw»ft mwut?» of mih-headincs vnto omitted. Tfie wplioßtion in tho new Ust of question* that the Commission should claim to pheok *«d inveatiaato every activity of the Mandatory Power is, in the view of his Mftiesty'a Government unneoesßary for tho puma* for which the mandatory irystom. was ostalb-

Qonsexning the hearing of pstittonws by the Mandates Commission, ftp yiew or his Majesty's Government is that there are the gravest objections to granting any form, of audience by «n Advisory Commission pf fto league to petitioners who either are themselves inhabitants of the territory ndmlnistored by; hip Majesty's Government ; under mandate 1 are petitioning ©» bojialf of the inhabitant* of SP?b, tnrritories. It ?s not. oleaT yrhy tho Jfandates Commission should be upnblo to form a definite opinion - on the basis.of I written documents as to whether. CMtain petitions are well fqundes or fiot. No such difficulty has been exiierlenced ih the Colonial Office, individual in the bvema, twrrjferlw ministered nnder thedirection of the Secretary of State for the Oojoni«s h§s ■• the right of petitioning hftn on any question through the officer administering tha government of the territpjry W which he resides. This right of patltion is constantly by, loth individuals and communities, hut although the petitions received by the Secretary of State, eamiltg as tlwy do from every quarter of the-wflirld,, «*v«r tho widest possible range, it bj£ never, b.een found necessary to grant audience* to petitioners, either for the purpo»o of considering their petitions or for the - purpose of elucidating matters ▼rat' which any petition deals. .The view of the JSritisb Government is that in any case in which, after examination of a written petition, the ' Mandates Commission finds itself nnable to wake a definite - to the Council, its proper course would be to request tho Mandatory Power concerned to furnish or obtain tha ' petitioners such as%=■> it requires on tha points on is in doubt. His Majesty's .Q»ym<~>'> njent are confident that tn« ; wa»w , would always be. ready to. reply fnl§r to such »« enqo'ry; Jft contwy w • all expeetation, the inforamMo* wj« ( not (forthcoming, the Comrntesio* wow doubtless report tho elrennwtwoes■ to the Council, and the qonnoil itaalf, being tho organ of tha &§ftgne to wWoa annual reports on Mwfotsd Territory ies are addressed, would decide action was to be taken- ' . In submitting these obeervatiow for the. consideration of the Council W» jiajqsty's Government desires to repeat the assurance given by the British "• presentafive. when the subject was first discussed, that they f uU appreciag the care, attention, and devotion wW*b the Mandate* Commission ha« brought to tho discharge of its task, Wfl.t&ey trast the Commission will W-.-W* ™ these observations any unfrfenqiy T depreciatory intention.