CONTROL OF MANDATES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12611, 23 November 1926, Page 7

CONTROL OF MANDATES

BRITAIN REPLIES TO LEAGUE QUESTIONNAIRE “UNNECESSARY” BASED ON WRONG PRINCIPLE By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian an<i N. 7«. Cable Association. 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. The reply quotes M. Hymans’s report to the League Council in 1920, declaring that the council is 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 a Herculean task. Britain adds that in view of these considerations the Empire’s mandatory Governments feel that the Mandates Commission’s proposals are baaed on a misoonception 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, aud the questionnaire is therefore unnecessary for the purpose for which the mandates were established, and is irreconcilable with the Hymans principles, which the council has already accepted. It the commission loquires further information regarding the petitions, Britain is confident that, the mandatory powers will be ready to reply fully to such an inquiry. 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.