§ 50. Mr. E. BROWNasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give any information as to the working of the mandate for the island of Samoa; and whether he has received any complaint, either direct from the island or through New Zealand, as to the general situation in that area?
§ Mr. AMERYThe mandate for Western Samoa was conferred upon His Majesty the King for, and on behalf of the Government of New Zealand, and it is by the New Zealand Government and not by His Majesty's Government in Great Britain that the mandate is exercised. I am therefore not in a position to make any statement in reply to the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. BROWNHas the right hon. Gentleman received any complaints at all as to the administration there?
§ Mr. AMERYNo, Sir; complaints would be addressed to the New Zealand Government, the responsible Government.
§ Mr. BROWNI was asking if there had been any complaints made to the Colonial Office. Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction, not about the administration by the New Zealand Government but by the particular administrator there, which is a reflection upon His Majesty?
§ Mr. AMERYThat administrator is responsible to the New Zealand Government, and any complaints with reference to his action must be laid before the New Zealand Government and raised in the New Zealand Parliament.
§ Mr. BROWNif there are complaints, and they reflect upon His Majesty, surely it comes within the duty of the right hon. Gentleman's Department to take notice of such complaints?
§ Mr. SPEAKERQuestions cannot be put here which relate to the action of another Government.
§ Mr. HARRISIf it be necessary to make an appeal, is not the League of Nations' Mandatory Committee the proper authority to which to appeal?
§ Lord APSLEYIs it not the fact that the New Zealand Government are short of trained civil servants and could we not assist them in some way?
§ Mr. AMERYThat is a matter for the New Zealand Government to consider. Certainly I have heard nothing but the highest praise of the officer administering Samoa.
§ Mr. J. H. THOMASAre we to understand that no question relative to a mandated territory can be submitted to the Secretary of State in this House?
Sir WILLIAM LANE MITCHELLIs it not the case that the Government of New Zealand is a Dominion Government, entirely self-controlled and self-contained and that we have nothing to do with it?
§ Mr. THOMASThat is not my point. I was putting the question to the Secretary of State. Are there any means of raising a question affecting a mandated territory other than in this House?
§ Mr. AMERYI would submit that in the case of any mandated territory for which His Majesty's Government in Great Britain is responsible all the questions would come to this House, in so far as questions are not raised at the League of Nations, but as regards a mandated territory for which another of the responsible Governments of His Majesty is responsible questions can only be raised in the Parliament of that responsible Government.
§ Mr. THOMASDoes that mean that the mandate of any particular Dominion is, in the first place, given by the sanction of this House as representing the Imperial Government; and is there any means of putting these questions other than to the Secretary of State to the Dominions?
§ Mr. AMERYI think my right hon. Friend is mistaken in his premises. The partition of the mandated territory was by agreement between the Governments concerned, and not with the sanction of this House. The sanction of this House was given by His Majesty's Government undertaking the mandatory responsibility which they now hold.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIf a question were addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, asking whether a certain question had been raised in the League of Nations, would that not be a perfectly legitimate question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI cannot rule upon questions which have not been asked, and I content myself with the ruling already given.