HC Deb 06 June 1939 vol 348 cc202-3
34. Mr. Mander

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the reasons why Lord Hankey has been appointed a member of the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations in succession to Lords Hailey and Lugard; and what experience he has had of Colonial administration?

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Butler)

The constitution of the Permanent Mandates Commission provides that members should be appointed for their personal merits and competence. It was on the grounds of Lord Hankey's exceptional administrative experience and acknowledged qualities that his appointment was proposed at the recent Council by the Rapporteur for Mandates Questions, the representative of Latvia, and approved by the Council.

Mr. Mander

Would the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the latter part of the question?

Mr. Butler

There is no specific requirement that members of the Permanent Mandates Commission should have Colonial experience, and, in fact, several of them have not that experience.

Mr. Mander

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer that part of the question? He has not answered it.

Mr. Butler

I should have thought that, in view of Lord Hankey's record, his knowledge of Colonial and other administration must be very considerable.

Mr. Mander

While appreciating Lord Hankey's long and distinguished public service, may I ask whether it has not in fact been the practice to appoint as members of this body experts with know ledge of native Colonial administration, and whether there was no one in the Civil Service in this country who possessed that knowledge?

Mr. Butler

As I have already said, there is no requirement that members of the Permanent Mandates Commission should have Colonial experience, and not all the present members of the Commission possess that experience.

Mr. Noel-Baker

In view of the fact that most of the important members of the Commission have had such experience, is it not very unfortunate that His Majesty's Government should depart from that practice, which has no doubt contributed largely to the great authority of the Mandates Commission?

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