§ 48. Mr. Sorensenasked the Prime Minister whether, in order to minimise the chances of war arising from inter national rivalry for colonies as purely national possessions, he will make a statement of the means by which the Government propose to carry out their policy to 2238 proceed as far upon the economic side as has already been done on the political side, in making wider application of the principles which now obtain in the mandated territories?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the hon. Member will read the speech recently made by my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs as a whole, he will see that the suggestion mentioned in the question is contingent upon the attainment of some agreement on common methods and aims of Colonial development. This being so, it is obviously premature for His Majesty's Government to make any statement of the kind which the hon. Member suggests.
§ Mr. SorensenWhile appreciating the Prime Minister's reply and the contingencies to which he has referred, might I ask whether it would not be valuable to the whole world to know what are our principles in regard to colonies, in respect of this country and other countries, too, and is he aware that, in fact, the Labour party has put forward its policy on this question?
§ The Prime MinisterI am not aware that it has produced any effect.