DEMAND FOR COLONIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1938, Page 5

DEMAND FOR COLONIES

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ASSURANCE BY PREMIER. NO ACTION WITHOUT FULL DISCUSSION. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, November 15. A number of members of the House of Commons, including Mr Vyvyan Adams, Mr Avery, and Mr Spears, tabled a motion in the House today which expresses the opinion that nb agreement should be made under which any colonies or mandated territories shall be transferred to Germany without the consent of the people of Britain. A crowded meeting of Conservatives discussed the matter privately. It is gathered that fears were expressed that the Government might return certain territories to Germany. The meeting generally opposed such a course. Members of the House of Commons in the lobbies discussed the proposal that an early conference with the Dominions be held in London, which many favoured. The Prime Minister, Mi' Chamberlain, was asked in the House of Commons today, if, in view of the discouragement to development and employment caused by the uncertainty regarding the future government of Tanganyika and other African territories formerly under German rule, the British Government would give an assurance that, no transference of the mandates of any of those territories would be effected until adequate financial compensation had been given to enterprises and investors who had been engaged in developing those territories since Britain first accepted the mandates for theii’ government. Mr Chamberlain replied: “I would refer the House to a statement made by my predecessor (Mr Baldwin), on December 18, 1935, when he said that no British territory and no territory under British protection or mandate would be transferred from British sovereignty or authority without the fullest regard being paid to the interests of the populations in the territories concerned.”

Asked if the Government was contemplating a transfer of this mandated territory on any terms, Mr Chamberlain said, “No.” The Prime Minister was then asked if he would undertake that Parliament should be consulted before any discussions were initiated with foreign Powers respecting the transfer of mandated or colonial territories. He replied: “As my predecessor said in the House on April 27, 1936, the British Government will not commit itself to any statement in connection with this particular problem without giving a full opportunity for discussion in the House.”

Answering further questions ’as to the nature of any British guarantee of the present frontiers of Czechoslovakia, Mr Chamberlain said: “The matter is being examined in all aspects by the Government, and I hope to be able to make a further statement later.”