LEAGUE MANDATES

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1920, Page 1

LEAGUE MANDATES

POSITION OF DOMINIONSrAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] November 3. Lord Liverpool’ presided at the Colonial Institute when Sir J. Allen read a paper in the N.Z. Mandate for Mestem. Samoa. He dwelt' on the new status which the Dominion had acquired under the Peace Treaty. Sir J. Allen said he favoured the fullest and freest discussion of this development, even before tlie next Imperial Conference, in order that the Conference might have the advantage of the best brains in the Empire. He regarded the suggestion for an Imperial Parliament as an impracticable'one,'while he saw the Imperial Conference was ephemeral. They wanted sopie form of Imperial Council where an Empire view could /be co-ordinated, and they could advise, the Crown on all Empire questions. Referring to the mandates he said there were divergent views as to the authority whence the Dominions were receiving the mandates, and. as to whether "they should legislate in their own Parliaments, or 1 whether it would not be more in accord with Imperial ideals to utilse legislation already provided, l,y the Imperial ' Parliament, Sir J. Allen instanced the fact that South Africa is treating her mandate as coming from Allied' find associated Powers while New Zealand had utilised an Imperial Act known as the Foreign Jurisdiction) A'cib. These differences show 'a need for the League of Nations defining the position. The League Covenant seemed to contemplate direct communication with the League as regards the reports on the working of tlie mandate, but such a system was likely to lead to difficulties, owing ,to contrary views being expressed by separate Dominions under one Crown. South Africa suggested an examination of the reports to the League of Nations Council through a sort of clearing house in London. Sir j. Allen outlined the work Now Zealand was already doing in Samoa. He said he looked forward to some day when the Samoans might become, like the Maoris, members of the New Zealand Parliament. Lord Liverpool said he wholeheartedly concurred with Sir J. Allen. Ho said there was absolute liquor woliibition in Samoa. It was equally applicable to the whites as to the natives. Sir Joseph Ward followed Lord Liverpool. He spoke somewhat sensationally, eliciting the enthusiasm of the audience, by denouncing the whole mandatory system He condemned President Wilson’s participation in the Peace Conference. IHe also attacked the'secrecy of tlie Imperial Conference. Sir Joseph advocated an elective Imperial Council, ‘ that would be sitting publicly. He said that speaking from bis experience of many Imperial Conferences, o uld sav whenever a discussion 'of Dominion importance affected British politics, it was marked “secret and Confidential.’’ “What right,”' )ie> asked, “have the rulers of Britain to prevent the people of tlie Dominions from knowing what their representatives are saying or doing,” he rejoiced that Sir J. Allen had characterised the Imperial’ Conference as ephemeral. He wanted Samoa banded over unconditionally to New Zealand or to Britain; and similarly lie wanted New Guinea handed to Australia. or Britain; otherwise’when Germany joined the League of Nations,, she would participate equally in tlie administration of Samoa and New Guinea. He declared President Wilson should never have been President of the Peace Conference any more than the King. Without President Wilson there would have been ho mandatories. Owing to President Wilson’s persistence, the Peace Conference was compelled to accept the mandatories. Otherwise, a settlement would have been impossible. Tlie peace terms, he added, contained the germs of a new war.