The Washington herald., 1921-03-10
Fl win show" said Agesilaus, shat it is not
the places that grace men, but men the places"
-Plutarch
Anoeation Of Mandatories.

TN THE league of nations reply to the Colby
note, this government is reminded that "the
= ALLEGATION of all the inundated territories is a
junction Of the supreme council and not of the
council of the league OF nations This view
seems to have been accepted by the last ad-
tniinistraton, but may not be by the present one
If this is the correct view Mr.. Colby would
to have been mistaken in addressing to the
council of the league. the protest as to the man
datories including that of Germany's Pacific
Islands OF which Yap is one. He certainly could
not have interpreted the treaty in the first in
stance, or he would have addressed the supreme
council
. The treaty by Article CXIX simply states that
germany renounces in favor of the principal
allied and associated powers ali her rights and
stiles her possessions" The princ-
pal and allied and associated powers forming the
supreme council therefore, came into possession
OF these German territories. Did that fact also
garry the right Of their subsequent allocation?
They included Germanys African territories, her
lights in Shantung which by other articles were
specihcally transferred to Japan, and the Pacific
Sands The mandatory provisions of the covenant
zso treat directly OF her territories. Cen
al-Africa is placed in what is now known as "Class
81" while Southwest Africa and the Pacific islands
are placed in Glass c.
: Neither of these classes require acquescence of
their people in their disposition Class consists of
E.Southwest Africa and certain of the South Pacific
stands, which owing to the sparseness of popula-
son, their small size, or their remoteness from
e eenters Of civilization, best be administered
under the laws of the mandatory as integral por-
bons of its territory"
The islands given Japan are remote, small in
size individually. and sparse Of population. The
Mandatory article of the covenant does not state
that the council of the league shall allocate the
Inandatories, neither does it say it shall not nor
D there anywhere provision that this shall be done
BY the supreme council further than as this might
construed as sequence of possession.
Far more logically this ALLEGATION belongs to
ne league 1t would be difficult for anyone to con-
stIue the first two paragraphs OF the article provid
ing for mandates, meaning anything else. These
provide that the German possessions having ceased
10 be under the sovereignty of the states which
formerly governed them," their well-beng and de-
velopment form sacred trust OF civilization and
securities for the performance OF this trust should
be embodied in this covenant"
The next step is. that to give practical effect to
tis principle the tutelage OF such people shou be
entrusted to advanced nations, who by reason of
their experience geographical position
can best undertake the responsibility and are will
ing to accept and that this tdtelage should be
exercised by them msndatories of the league"
DOT as mandatorleS OF the supreme council
1t is also provided that "the degree of authority
control or administration to be exercised by the
mandatory shall, if not previously agreed upon by
the members of the league-not by the supreme
souncil-Be explicitly defined in each by the
council" 1t is an extreme wiggle that gives the
supreme council the right of ALLEGATION.
AS fact this right was exercised by mani
ikst stretch of authority, or rather by authority
merely taken to enable the allied powers settle
heir mutual debts contracted through secret treat
les. But the United States was not party to the
secret treaties> 1t still can be party to the
treaty OF Versailles.