The Washington herald., 1920-12-27
Mandates ana Mandatories.


the league of nations came near the close
1t arose over the question of mandates and
toneeTHed the extent OF the authority OF the council
st The council held that its authority was conclu-
sve and practically exclusive OF the assembly 1t
teeiined to make known its plans for mandates the
agreements between the mandatories, any rule or
regulations other matters concerning the pro-
posed government OF those OF the first class whose
independence should be professionally recognized"
So long these plans were in formative stage
the council rather bluntly informed the assembly
they were not OF its concern The assembly in
turn protested somewhat Indignantly, but was help
less TO unlock the tongue X-ray the minds of the
smaller body.
The article OF the covenant covering mandates
rivals Article XIV in length and is most peculiarly
and loosely worded All through the covenant there
.Euns thread of argument explanation and state
lent OF cause and purpose which might better have
accompanied the document than have been incor-
porated in it.
This particular article is largely devoted to
telling why there should be mandates differentiat-
ing the mandatories in classes, explaining the pur-
poses and excusing the action. 1t is smothering
y words.
~" But it carries provision for annual reports to
the council alone and also that "the degree of
authority control administration to be exercised
by the mandatory, SHALL if not previously agreed
defined in each case by the council"
e" The members of the league" form the assembly
and what was denied was the right of the assembly
to previously agree" upon "the degree of author
iety, control or administration to be exercised by
the mandatory"
The council declared that it had the sole right
TO formulate all of this and the assembly not hav-
ing the opportunity to previously agree" would
then have to take what was explicitly defined in
each case by the council"
This looks like rather high-handed procedure
1t also rather skaters open arrival at covenants
Especially is this true the article in another
paragraph provides that mandates should be cxer-
cised by the governments as manufactures on behalf
of the league, not on behalf OF the council as
representing the league.
1t moreover provides that the purposes of the
mandates IS to apply the principle that the we'll
being and development of such people form a sacred
trust OF civilization and that securities for the per-
Torrance OF this trust should be embodied in this
covenant The covenant be it remembered formed
the league OF nations, not just council of the elect
Pertinent to this conflict OF authority is the
further TACT that the broader power conferred upon
council and assembly, identical. Each is given
the power ito deal with any matter within the
sphere OF action of the league or affecting the
peace OF the world"
If the formation OF mandates, the naming of
manufactures, the framing OF governments for these
backward and but semi-independent units, are not
within the sphere OF the league" when are they
and what is their relation to the league?
This whole question remains unsettled. That
IT was raised and vigorously debated was most
wholesome. 1t shows that the assembly will not
be mere sdeshow for the council That it will
demand and ultimately get least equal authority
and that in the end the council will find itself
Obliged to answer to the larger, more representa-
tive body for all it does or fails to do
This assures both publicity of the pitiless order,
and that the few great powers cannot dominate and
dictate, while gathering to themselves the riches of
others as payment for their benevolent interest