113 Attlee to Commonwealth Government

Many thanks for your telegram No. 14 of 11th January concerning Colonial Policy. [1]

We have noted your views as to return to status quo as in paragraph 2(a) of your telegram. As regards paragraph 2(b), we have again carefully considered the question of accountability to some international body, but it seems to us that any attempt to follow too closely the analogy of the Permanent Mandates Commission would lead to weakness by introducing an element of irresponsibility and that commissions would be more likely to develop practical influence for general benefit if they did not contain such an element. For the protection of general interests, we consider that we should rely on the collaboration of the various authorities having direct and important interests in the area concerned though we should certainly hope that U.S.A. would be associated with each regional organisation.

In the light of your observations and those of the other Dominion Governments, we are now instructing Lord Halifax to approach Mr.

Hull on the basis of the revised draft statement contained in my immediately following telegram D.54. [2] Lord Halifax is being asked to leave the draft with Mr. Hull after his talk but only as a basis for discussion. We feel that it is essential to confine the discussions to Lord Halifax and Mr. Hull at this stage, but we will keep you informed of developments either direct or through your Minister at Washington with a view to your Government being associated at an appropriate moment if they so desire with any negotiations that may develop.