HC Deb 30 April 1936 vol 311 cc1096-7
74. Lieut.-Colonel SANDEMAN ALLEN

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the total white German population of all the German colonies in 1913 for which Great Britain now holds a mandate?

Sir JAMES BLINDELL (Lord of the Treasury)

I have been asked to reply. I believe that the number of Germans in the former German colonies of Togoland, the Cameroons and German East Africa to have been just over 6,000 in 1913, made up as follows:

Togoland 320
Cameroons 1,643
German East Africa 4,107
6,070

As parts of these territories are now under foreign mandate it is impossible to say exactly what was the German population of the territories now under United Kingdom Mandate, but it was probably about 4,500.

Lieut.-Colonel SANDEMAN, ALLEN

Does not that indicate that these lands are most unsuitable for settlement by whites?

Brigadier - General MAKINS

How many of these inhabitants were officials and how many colonists?

Sir J. BLINDELL

I am afraid I cannot say.

Mr. SANDYS

Do not those figures show that the return to Germany of her former colonies would have very small effect on her population problem?