§ 49. Mr. RAMSDENasked the Prime Minister whether the forthcoming Im- 2621 perial Conference will consider the difficulties of extending Imperial preference which arise from the fact that mandated territories are at present prohibited from reciprocating any Customs preferences that may be granted to them by other parts of the Empire?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have been asked to reply. I do not anticipate that this subject is likely to be raised at the forthcoming Imperial Conference.
Captain BENNHas the attention .of the hon. Gentleman been called to the form of this question, which speaks of preferences being " at present prohibited " .? Is there any intention of altering the article of the Covenant which prohibits preferences in any mandated territory?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI think the hon. and gallant Member is not correct in his statement. There is a great variation in the terms of the mandates. Under the terms of " C " mandates a country can receive preferences, under " B " mandates there are other conditions and " A " mandates stand in a category by themselves. The point of this question is whether the whole matter will be examined at the Imperial Conference, and I have said it will not be.
Captain BENNBut is there any intention of altering the general principle by which these territories held in trust give no preferences?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo alteration of the terms of the several mandates can take place without the unanimous decision of the Council of the League of Nations.