The League of Nations Union has expressed misgivin, about the
British reply to the Mandates Commission. will be remembered that when the questionnaire of the Commission came before the Council of the Leak! in September, Sir Austen Chamberlain denounced as inquisitorial. We believe that the Mandat Commission has been a little too fussy and tha' if it continues to demand information on so man details, it will be in danger of, diverting the ener, of Civil Servants from " governing in the interest' of the governed " to filling up documents for the satisfaction of Geneva. On the other hand we still feel strongly the regret which we expressed last September at Sir Austen's impatience. Great Britain has a very fine tradition in the administration of dependencies and has nothing whatever.. to conceal. She ought to set a good example in seeming to con inquiry. Sir Austen, therefore, might with advanta have been more tolerant. The inquiries of the Com' mission could have been reduced in time to coo appropriate proportions. This could have been done in submission to experience as well as in response- reasoned representations. The Dominion Governmentl which administer Mandates have taken their stand &mil by the side of Sir Austen Chamberlain, but we think nevertheless that the League of Nations Union has do well to indicate the right temper towards the Mandates Commission. -
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