§ 12. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the undertakings with regard to the liquor traffic in the mandated territories, as laid down in Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, are being applied to His Majesty's tropical Colonies in Africa, or whether they are only being curried out in the mandated territories?
The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Thomas)Article 22 of 8 the Covenant deals only with mandated territories, but the Regulations dealing with the importation of spirits into the British Colonies and Protectorates in Tropical Africa are the same as those in force in the mandated territories, all being subject to the provisions of the Liquor Traffic Convention of St. Germain.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAre we to understand that in no way is the treatment of the tropical Dependencies in this matter any less stringent than in the case of the mandated territories?
§ Mr. LEIF JONESSeeing that the Covenant of the League of Nations lays down prohibition in mandated territories, how is it that the policy is not carried out in the other territories which, according to the Colonial Secretary, are under the same Regulations?
§ Mr. JONESWill the right hon. Gentleman take the trouble to read Article 22 of the Covenant, which is explicit on the subject?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIs it not a fact that Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations lays down that there shall only be prohibition of the abuses of the liquor traffic and not prohibition of the liquor traffic itself?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is not the point raised in the question.