PERMANENT MANDATES COMMISSION. (Hansard, 7 June 1939)

§ 46. Mr. T. Williams
asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that in the event of the Permanent Mandates Commission reporting that the White Paper dealing with Palestine is inconsistent with the mandate, an opportunity will be afforded this House for a further discussion of the White Paper and the Report of the Commission before asking the Council of the League of Nations to consider it?

§ The Prime Minister
No, Sir. The business before the Permanent Mandates Commission at their session this month will be the examination of the annual reports on Mandated Territories, and it is understood that in the course of their 413 examination of the annual report on Palestine and Transjordan they are likely to take an opportunity of discussing Command Paper No. 6019, copies of which have been forwarded to Geneva. If the Commission have any comments to offer on it, these will be embodied in their report to be laid before the Council of the League next September, At the meeting of the Council a representative of His Majesty's Government will be in a position to afford any information which the Council may require regarding the policy set out in the Command Paper which has already been approved by the House. His Majesty's Government are satisfied that the policy is in conformity with their obligations under the mandate, and will explain their view, if required, to the Council.

§ Mr. Williams
In view of the small majority in this House and the large number of absentees when the White Paper was debated, may I ask the Prime Minister whether, should the Mandates Commission regard the policy embodied in the White Paper as being inconsistent with the mandate, it is not fair to expect that this House should be given an opportunity of discussing the observations of the Mandates Commission before the matter goes to the League of Nations?

§ The Prime Minister
That is a hypothetical question, and I think we had better wait until the circumstances arise.

§ Mr. Williams
May we have an assurance that before a decision is finally taken on this hypothetical matter, he will consider the advisability of the House discussing it?

§ The Prime Minister
That is the same hypothetical question.

§ Mr. Noel-Baker
Will the Prime Minister undertake that the policy will not be put into effect until it has been approved by the Council of the League, which is the supreme authority?

§ Mr. Lipson
May I ask whether it is within the competence of the Mandates Commission to decide whether the proposals are legal or not?

§ The Prime Minister
The only provision on such a matter is in Article 26 of the Palestine Mandate, where it is laid down that if any dispute should arise between 414 the Mandatory Power and another member of the League of Nations as to the interpretation of the application of the provisions of the mandate, such dispute, if it cannot be settled by negotiation, shall be submitted to the Permanent Court of International Justice.

§ Mr. Mander
May I ask whether it is not the case that certain members of the Cabinet are opposed to the Government's policy on Palestine?

§ Mr. Noel-Baker
Is there not also an obligation in Article 22, under which the Mandates Commission has to advise the Council of the League on the observance of the mandate in order that the Council may make a final decision?

§ The Prime Minister
I think that question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies.