 In 1927, Stanley was transferred to Ceylon as its Governor, which drew criticism due to his lack of background knowledge of Asian affairs, although he is reported to have acquitted himself well.Whilst in Ceylon he served as President of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1929–30.In 1932, he was made Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of Saint John

He returned to Africa in 1931 to serve as High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in South Africa before his appointment as Governor of Southern Rhodesia in 1935, initially for a two-year term, but he was persuaded to remain in Salisbury until 1942, when he retired from active service.