MANDATORY POWERS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 50, 23 November 1926, Page 3

MANDATORY POWERS

COMMISSION’S FAMOUS QUESTIONNAIRE

REPLY OF BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE

By Telegraph.—peess association. COPTBIGHP.

London, November 21.

The British Foreign Office, after consulting with Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, has prepared a lengthy reply to the Mandates Commission’s famous questionnaire. llie replv quotes the Hymans report to the League Council in 1920, declaring that the Council was not required, either itself or through the Mandates Commission, to examine every detail of administration, and it does not possess the means to discharge such an Herculean task, Britain adds that. in view of these considerations the Umpire’s mandatory Governments feel that the Mandates Commission’s proposals arc based on a misconception of both the Council’s and the Commission’s duties and responsibilities. The theory that the petitioners should have the means of making their grievances known is correct, but the. suggestion of the Advisory Commission to give the petitioners a hearing is an incorrect and dangerous application of the theory, and the questionnaire is therefore unnecessary for the purpose for which the mandates were established, and are irreconcilable with the Hymans principles, which the Council has already accented. If the Commission requires further information regarding the petitions, Britain is confident that the mandatory Powers will be ready to reply fully to such innuiry.

Britain repeats the assurance formerly given by the British representatives that they appreciate the care, attention and devotion with which the Mandates Commission has discharged its task, and trusts that the Commission will not regard Britain’s reply as unfriendly and depreciatory.