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.