A.—s,

23

As a result of this meeting the Fifth Committee feels that, while the situation still continues to be grave, the step taken at this meeting to secure a Conference on the Limitation of Manufacture, made possible for the first time by the acceptance by manufacturing countries of the principle of direct limitation of manufacture by means of an international agreement, justifies hope of the ultimate success of the League's effort. But this success must depend on the fullest possible co-operation of all Governments. During the discussions the opinion was expressed that the development of an international public opinion, which will be a direct result of the formation of the League of Nations is likely to be the most powerful factor in bringing about these results, and, indeed, particularly is this the case in humanitarian movements. SIXTH COMMITTEE. Among the questions discussed by this committee the most important were the following : (1) Slavery ; (2) mandates and mandated territories ; (3) refugees. Slavery. With regard to the perennial subject of slavery, another long discussion took place this year. It appeared that the measures already adopted with regard to this subject had not proved as fully effective as had been hoped. The British delegation proposed, therefore, that the Slavery Committee should be re-established with a view to obtaining additional information and endeavouring to expedite ratification of the Slavery Convention by various' dilatory States. A sub-committee was set up to consider the question. The report of this sub-committee (which especially considered the British proposal for a Commission) came before the Sixth Committee. It was then ascertained that the sub-committee had been unable to adopt the British proposal. It recommended, in place of the British view, that the Secretariat should during the coming year make the fullest possible inquiries in the various countries where the evil is existent. The Sixth Committee seemed pretty unanimous that the question could be best dealt with by the Secretariat in this fashion. I was unable to agree with this opinion, and supported the view of Lord Cecil, the British delegate, that we should get much closer to the truth by having a Special Commission. Eventually the British view was rejected in favour of a proposal for further official inquiries by the Secretariat during the coming year. It is to be regretted that a great many nations have, as yet, failed to ratify the Slavery Convention, but I have some hope that the pressure of world opinion voiced through the League may soon induce these people to come into line with ratifying States. Mandates. The Sixth Committee, as usual, considered the question of mandates (Documents A. 42 and A. 62). Dr. Nansen presented the usual report. He expressed a strong opinion in favour of the Mandatory Powers sending high officials to represent them when their reports were being discussed by the Permanent Mandates Commission. He said that the question of sovereignty appeared to have been finally settled by the Council, and it was understood that, in the strict meaning of the term, the Mandatory Power possessed no sovereignty over a mandated territory. In regard to Tanganyika Dr. Nansen was glad to note the very important statement made by the representative of the British Empire. Another delicate question was that of Palestine. Every one realized the difficulties of the present situation, and members of the committee had therefore listened with satisfaction to the statement of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. Dr. Nansen hoped that the Government would find a satisfactory solution and would succeed in removing all causes of friction. In regard to the campaign against the liquor traffic, Dr. Nansen noted with satisfaction the final accession of the Mandatory Powers to the definition of " liquor " contained in the Treaty of St. Germain and in various conventions. He was happy to perceive that relations between Persia and Irak had improved. This had mainly been due to the new legal system introduced into Irak. The above reference to Tanganyika was in respect of a proposal to attach Tanganyika to Kenya. Recently a Royal Commission (called the Hilton-Young Commission) has recommended that, for economic and various other cogent reasons, the Mandated Territory of Tanganyika should be incorporated in the adjoining British colony for all administrative purposes. Strong opposition to this proposal was manifested in the League. Indeed, the opponents were only satisfied after the British Foreign Minister had declared that whatever action the British Government decided upon in regard to the proposed union should be first submitted to the Permanent Mandates Commission. There was some discussion on Palestine. The delegate for Italy hoped that the League would assist the Mandatory Power (Great Britain) in her heavy task. I spoke and said that I agreed with the representative of Italy that nothing should be done to create difficulties for the Mandatory Powers generally in the accomplishment of their task. The mandate system was still in the experimental stage, but its success was probable, thanks to the existing co-operation between the Mandatory Powers and the Mandates Commission. I said I did not wish to discuss the question of sovereignty, but noted simply that the mandate system had created new relations which were different from all former notions of international law on the subject. The delegate from Germany, M. von Schubert, then followed. He submitted a number of general observations showing the German Government's point of view. He expressed his satisfaction at the manner in which the Permanent Mandates Commission had fulfilled its difficult task. That Commission sought to ensure the application of principles which formed the basis of the mandates system, especially the maintenance of mandated territories as integral units. That principle applied particu-