Mr. Chamberlain on Colonies . Mr. Neville Chamberlain made a
statement of some importance on the future of colonies ,and . mandated territories in the House of Commons on Monday. That question may so soon become immediate that it is well to have the Government's attitude expressed as clearly as it was by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He laid it down that colonies must be distinguished from man- dated territories, that there was no question of a transfer of colonies, and that any transfer of mandates must be made collectively and without offence to the wishes and right's of native peoples. That is all perfectly just, but it is doubtful how far rigid observance of such principles will in itself carry us towards a solution of the colonial problem when it is finally raised. To confine the question to mandated territories, and merely to insist that we are but one among other mandatory Powers, is to conceal the fundamental fact that we are by .far the greatest of colonial Powers and that some lead may reasonably be expected to come from us. Without that, collective discussion of possible colonial changes may too easily resolve itself into a decision by every State to wait resolutely on every other.
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