LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18653, 7 September 1922, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

MANDATED TERRITORIES, ADMINISTRATION OF NAURU. AUSTRALIA’S POSITION CHALLENGED. From Association;—By Telegraph—Copyright, GENEVA, September 5. (Received Sept. 6, at 8.50 p.m.) i The Council of the League of Nations has circulated the reports from the Permanent Mandates Commission upon which the Secretariat bases its report, which was received. The Commission reiterates the conviction that Chinese labourers accompanied by their wives constitute a grave social danger to the native populations. The Chinese coolie is under a three years’ contract thousands of miles from home, and this question demands the greatest administrative care. The Commission also challenges the validity of Australia’s administration of Nauru, because British mandates of this class were conferred on the King, hut in all cases except Nauru it was expressly stated that the King acted on behalf of the Australian, South African, or New Zealand Government. There was no such reservation in the case of Nauru. The Commission was, therefore, bound to consider that Nauru was under a mandate of the Empire as a whole, not of a particular Government within the Emnire. The Commission points out that while Mr Hughes telegraphed on July 28 Sir Joseph Cook’s appointment as commonwealth representative in reference to Nauru, the Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet notified the League of Nations on July 31 that Sir Joseph Cook had been the accredited representative of the Empire. The Commission emphasised the point that, although Australia was not designated with mandatory power for Nauru, the administration of the island is exercised de facto by the Australian Government. Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland completed the New Zealand delegation to-day. Mr Justice Rich (Australia) is expected to-mor-row.—A. and N.Z. Cable.