A.—s

25

Eventually the Sixth Committee came to the conclusion that it would be the better plan to incorporate the services in the Secretariat than to constitute a temporary autonomous organization in conformity with the Supervisory Commission's suggestion. The problem having numerous financial and administrative aspects, the Sixth Committee applied to the Fourth Committee. At its meeting on the 17th September the Fourth Committee heard Dr. Nansen and the Rapporteur, and decided to set up a sub-committee to make a, detailed study of the question. This sub-committee's report was submitted on the 19th September to the Fourth Committee, which approved it. Here are one or two important sections which were thus adopted : — " In examining the question of the future organization of the services of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the sub-committee noted that the Advisory Committee for Refugees and the Supervisory Commission and the High Commissioner himself, whilst proposing different solutions, had the same end in view—namely, to carry through this organization in such a way as to enable the High Commissioner's work to be terminated as speedily and satisfactorily as possible. " The sub-committee proposed that the High Commissioner's central service should be placed for a period of one year, and as an experiment, under the administrative authority of the Secretary-General of the League of Nations. During this period all the financial obligations of the High Commissioner and the funds accruing from external sources will be administered and controlled by the competent organs of the League in accordance with the Financial Regulations and the decisions of the Assembly, under conditions which will be subject to examination and approval by the Supervisory Commission. It is, moreover, understood that this temporary management will not affect the status of the personnel of the High Commissioner. " The Secretary-General will thus be in a position to consider the whole of the questions relating to this problem, to report to the next Assembly on the experience thus obtained, and to make proposals for the administration of the Refugees Organization during the whole period in which it is being wound up. " The Secretary-General had no objection to the proposed arrangement, but he pointed out that the personnel thus incorporated in the Secretariat must be disregarded if a reckoning be made of the number of the different nationalities on the Secretariat. The sub-committee agreed to this view." In conclusion, the Sixth Committee proposed to the Assembly the adoption of the following resolutions, which ultimately were carried :— " The Assembly— " (1) Has .examined the reports submitted by the High Commissioner, the Advisory Commission, and the Supervisory Commission on the question of Russian, Armenian, Assyrian, Assyro-Chaldean, and Turkish refugees ; " (2) Thanks the High Commissioner and the Advisory Commission for the work accomplished, and asks them to continue their work on the basis of the programme outlined in the Advisory Commission's report, under the direction of the Council of the League of Nations ; " (3) Decides that the Refugees' Organization should be wound up within a maximum period of ten years ; " (4) Recommends that the work of winding-up should be methodically pursued in order that it may be possible subsequently to reduce this period of ten years ; " (5) Decides that the High Commissioner's central service be placed for a period of one year, and, as an experiment, under the administrative authority of the SecretaryGeneral of the League of Nations, subject to the conditions indicated by the Fourth Committee ; " (6) Requests the Secretary-General to report to the next Assembly on the experience thus acquired, and to make proposals for the administration of the Refugees' Organization during the whole period in which it is being wound up." With regard to the settlement of Armenian refugees in the Republic of Erivan, Dr. Nansen reported that it had proved impossible to make satisfactory arrangements, and he recommended that the League should drop this project for the present. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, C. J. Pare, High Commissioner for New Zealand. The Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Wellington, New Zealand.

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