52. Captain BENNasked the Prime Minister whether mandates held by the British Government under the Treaty of Versailles are held in perpetuity, or whether they are subject to the control of the Council of the League of Nations, as laid down in Article 22 of the Treaty?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIn the case of A Mandates, Article 22 a the Covenant provides for the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a mandatory until such time as the communities in question are able to stand alone. In the case of other mandates neither the Covenant nor the terms of the mandates held by His Majesty's Government limit the period for which the mandate is to be held. Article 22 provides that the tutelage of the peoples concerned is to be exercised by the mandatories on behalf of the League, and the hon. and gallant Member is doubtless acquainted with the system of supervision exercised by the League through the Permanent Mandates Commission.
Captain BENNHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the speech made by the Secretary of State for the Dominions, in which he brushed aside the authority of the League in respect of Tanganyika?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir.