Evening star., 1922-07-23
CONFIRM MANDATE
OVER HOLY LANDS
League Council Members Act
on Palestine and Syria
Governing Systems.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 2e-F'inal confirma-
ton was given the Palestine and Syrian
mandates today by the council of the
league of nations.
This means that the mandate system
of government becomes effective
throughout the world almost Immediate
ly. There remain for settlement only
certain minor points between France
and Italy, respecting Italian schools.
immigration and some economic fea-
lures in Syria.
The Earl of Balfour. Rene Vivian
and Marquis lmperiali. respectively,
the delegates OF England France and
day regarding the future policy of
their governments in the mandate
areas.
BaIfour Urges Haste.
Urging the confirmation of the
mandates. the Earl of Balfour said
today that their immediate adoption
was imperatively needed in order to
allay the agitation and unrest among
the different racial elements in the
mandate areas. He said that while
custody OF the holy places was of
great interest and Importance to the
outside world. they We're of little con-
cern to the inhabitants of Palestine
and Syria.
NJ Vivian indorsed this view. He
said that France was anxious that
the mandates should be accepted i'm
mediately. Marquis Imperiali. who
contended for the definition of the
Vatican'S rights to the holy places
yielded on this point.
The action of the council marks
the elimination of three years ef-
fort and negotiation on the part of
the league to institute the mandate
system in the Pacific islands, central
Africa and Asia Minor. 1t is con-
strued as a victory for Earl of Bal
four and as giving further effect to
the esta blishment of Jewish ma
tlorel home.
The mandate for Mesopotamia au
toma tically disappears with the crea-
ton by Great Britain of an independ-
ent state in that country. There was
no real divergence of opinion regard
ing the Syrian mandate, but on arti-
Gle II of the Palestine document. de-
fining the functions and powers of
the commission for the custody of
the holy places. there was some dis
agreement between France, Italy and
England.
This article is now revised to meet
the wishes of all the parties and the
text will be announced Monday. The
composition and competency of the
commission will be determined by
of the assembly in September. 1t be-
came known today that the Vatican
approached the council concerning
the safeguarding of its interests
through Count de Leon Spanish am
bassador to France. 1t is proba BILE
that Mgr. Cerretti. papal nuncio in
Paris. will be heard on the claims
of the holy see on Monday.
PnpnI Nuncio's Views.
1tyhn n
London Thursday to present the
views of the Vatican to the council
of the league of nations on the Pal
estine mandate, particularly the Gus
today of the holy places. through
some misadventure was not heard by
the council. He made the following
statement to The Associated Press to-
day: ..
Il anticipated that the council
would approve the Palestine mandate,
but did not expect that it would do
so before giving me an opportunity
relinquished holiday at Vichy to
come here at the telegraphed request
of the Holy See, and l naturally feel
sense of disappointment at the
councils failure to hear me before
confirming the mandate.
1T is obvious that the revision of
article fourteen, confirming the COM
position and authority of the COM
mission for the custody of the holy
places was a mere form and that
Great Britain will have the final voice
in deciding the personnel and tunc-
tionS of the commission.
THE Vatican considers the holy
places international in character and
consequently the commission should
be international: it should embrace
the representatives of all countries
which have special int tarests in the
do.
or any one country to dictate in
these cases
The custody of these places has
been under an Italian, a Frenchmal
and Spaniard. and recently an En-
glishman, and it is only just that
the commission should comprise
members from these countries"