HC Deb 22 March 1920 vol 127 c27
45. Lord R. CECIL

asked the Prime Minister whether under the penultimate paragraph of Article 22 of the Covenant it now falls to the Council of the League to define explicitly the terms of the mandates for those territories which were German colonies before the War; whether such terms have been yet defined; and, if not, whether he, as representing the British Empire, will urge on the Council the desirability of dealing with this subject as soon as possible?

The PRIME MINISTER

The answer to the first part of my Noble Friend's question is that the penultimate paragraph of the Covenant of the League of Nations states that the terms of the mandates for those territories which were German colonies before the War will be defined by the Council of the League, if not previously agreed upon by the members of the League. As regards the remainder of the question, the whole matter is engaging the earnest attention of His Majesty's Government, and I hope before long to be in a position to give my Noble Friend further information in regard to it.

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

Is it not true that the mandate for the Tanganyika Territory was agreed upon by the members of the League at the time of the signing of the peace, and when will it be published?

The PRIME MINISTER

I do not believe it was agreed to as a separate thing. There was an agreement entered into with regard to the whole of the German colonies in Africa at the time of the signature of peace.