The New York herald., 1921-02-24
COMMONS CLAIMS
MANDATECONTROL
BOnar Law Admits It's COnsti-
tional Right to Adopt or
Reject Agreements.
MESOPOTAMIAN PACT OFF
Postponement Meets Approval,
Awaiting American Note
and Churchill's Return.

special Gable TO Tur NEW YORK HEs.Lp.
Copyright. 1921. hv TIE Ngw YonN HEsM D.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, Feb. %.
Reversing the position 1t took last
spokesman, Andrew Bonar Law, ad-
mitted in the House OF Commons to-
night that the British Parliament had
the constitutional power to adopt or
connection with the mandate for Meso-
potamia-
Up TO this time the position of the
Government in connection with the
Palestine and Mesopotamiau mandates
in so far as the House OF Commons
was concerned was more or less an
alogous TO that of President Wilson
toward the Senate in connection with
the Versailles treaty The Commons
took a position similar TO that OF the
Senate and the Lloyd George Govern
ment has been forced TO bow to IL,
Just as President Wilson was forced
TO give way 10 the Stualt.
Mr.. Bonar Law told the House that
The Government might be thus bound
by negotiating the mandate in connec-
ton with the Treaty OF Sevres that the
rnandate once negotiated, must be sub
r1itted to the House or Commons, and
that the House would have the consti-
;utionaI right to pass upon II.
This statement. coming almost stimuli
taneousiy with the United States note
to the Council Of the League Of Nations
In Paris on mandates and the councils
postponement OF consideration OF the
mandate question until its next session
practically assures that the entire Meso-
potamian settlement Will again be
thrown in the afr in so far az Great
Britain is concerned. The statement
was forced from Mr.. Bonar Law as
result OF the admission b. Sir Launing
worthington-E Evans. Secretary OF State
for War yesterday that Great Britain
had 104, 900 troops in India and 100000
in Mesopotamia.
When Mr.. Bonar Law challenged the
House last Monday whether IL had any
say as TO the vast expenditure OF money
which would be incurred by the accep-
tance Of the mandates. ne made what the
London Tsnes calls the most unconstitu-
t!onal claim since the time Of the Stuart
nonarchs. namely that the mandate for
Mesopotamia must be submitted TO the
League OF Nations FIRST and afterward
the House OF Commons had no power TO
revoke Il or its financial responsibilities
adding that otherwise ct really meant
the League Of Nations could not func-
iion."
Sir william Johnson Hicks promptly
took up this challenge, declaring that
what M. Bonar Law really meant was
that Parliament could not function"
His argument rang familiar 20 Ameri-
can ears
After consultation with Premier Lloyd
George to-day. Mr. B0nsr l4sv reversed
himself and gave power 90 Parliament 20
upset the Executives Information agree
ments just the SAM as .he Senate upset
those OF President Wilson.
The text os the American note 20 the
Council os the League had not reached
here up to late hour this afternoon. but
n view OF Great Br.tain's. uncertain
rcgs riding Megopo.amia y was nt,mated
here that She agreement by Arthur J.
Balfour representing tho empire or the
council, 20 Postpone action on the man
date for Mesopotsmia, meets with hearty
approval in London II is now regarded
as proba bic that 10 definite Mcsupo;am-
tan policy will be settled Jpon until AFTER
,hs return OF Winston Spencer Churchill.
Secretary Of state for Tho Colonies. from.
Egypt and possibly rot vutN attei &c
conference OF the pfiine Ministers Of the
Empire here next June.
Mr. Chufchills trip is be'aE severely
criticized in almost all quarters. 80
British press being almost daluged With
protests from Egyp; and India against
cntrusting THIS task 70 the man who pro-
claimed recently tnat Egypt is part Of
the British Empire."
THERE'S ar Interesting letter @ tho Ciassi-
fled section J. tcils how Revtu dogs were