§ 55. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Prime Minister which mandates are now being drafted by the Conference of Ambassadors in Paris; whether the draft mandates for Palestine and the Tanganyika territory are now completed; when they will be presented to the Allies for approval; and when they are likely to be laid before the Council of the League of Nations?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe mandates relating to the territory and islands formerly belonging to Germany in Africa and in the Pacific are now, being drafted for consideration by the Supreme Council. The drafts are being prepared, not by the Conference of Ambassadors, but, as I stated in my answer to the hon. Member on the 24th June, by the Drafting Committee of the Peace Conference. It is hoped that these mandates will be approved at the Conference at Spa, and will be submitted to the League of Nations shortly afterwards. The Palestine mandate is now under consideration.
§ 56. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Prime Minister whether the coming into force of mandatory conditions in the ex-German colonies and those ex-Ottoman territories which are to be subject to mandatory assistance will be delayed until the specific terms of each mandate have been approved by the Council of the League of Nations?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThis question is still under discussion. I hope that it will be possible to make a statement about it after the Spa Conference.
§ Captain W. BENNWill the Powers who are controlling these territories render any report to the League of Nations of their trusteeship before they receive the mandate?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIf the hon. and gallant Member will read the Peace Treaty, he will see nothing in it of that kind is or can be contemplated.
§ Captain BENNWhat guarantee have we that the Treaties will be properly administered?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe only guarantee is the consideration that this country and all the other countries will carry out their obligations.
§ Lieut.-Colonel CROFTIs the mandatory in Palestine in perfectly safe keeping in the hands of Sir Herbert Samuel, a former colleague of the hon. and gallant Gentleman?