WSJIAKT [Distributed to the Council C. 144. M. 58. 1926. V. a n d /Ae Members of the League.] G e n e v a , March 8th, 1926. LEAGUE OF NATIONS PERMANENT MANDATES COMMISSION r epo r t t o t h e c o u n c il o f t h e l e a g u e o f n a t io n s ON THE WORK OF THE EIGHTH (EXTRAORDINARY) SESSION OF THE COMMISSION Held in Borne, February 16th-March 6th, 1926. During the course of its extraordinary session held in Rome from February 16th to March 6th, 1926, to consider the situation in Syria, the Permanent Mandates Commission examined the annual report of the mandatory Power for the year 1924 and a provisional report for 1925 (“Rapport provisoire à la Société des Nations sur la situation de la Syrie et du Liban (Année 1925)”), as well as certain petitions, in the presence of the accredited representative of the French Government, M. Robert de Caix, former Secretary-General of the French High Commissariat for Syria and the Lebanon. All the members of the Commission, as well as Mr. H. A. Grimshaw, representative of the International Labour Organisation, were present except M. Beau. At its meeting on the 18th, the Commission heard with great regret of his death on February 16th and desires to pay a tribute to his competence and great ability, expressing at the same time their sorrow and regret at the loss of a dear friend and a valuable collaborator. As the Members of the Council are aware, at M. Beau’s request, M. Roume, (French) Honorary Governor-General of the Colonies, had been authorised by the Aeting-President of the Council to act as a substitute for M. Beau during this extraordinary session, and the Commission desires to record its appreciation of his efficient collaboration. I, — Observations of t h e Co m m ission r e s u l t in g from th e E x a m in a t io n of th e R epo rt from t h e M a n d a t o r y P ow er on t h e A dministration of S y r ia a n d th e Lebanon in 1924. As the Commission, at its fifth session, had already considered a report for the period July 1st, 1923-June 30th, 1924, the report for the year 1924 covers a new period of six months only. Certain technical points which arose out of the examination of the provisional report for 1925 are also included in the following observations. On the other hand, no reference is made to some questions of a general political character which have been considered fully in the Commission’s observations on the provisional report on the situation in Syria and the Lebanon in 1925. The following observations are drawn up in as concise a form as possible. In order fully to understand them reference should be made to the minutes of the meetings at which the questions dealt with were discussed. 1. Nationality. The Commission would be glad to be informed of such measures as may be taken in order to reach a final solution of the question of the national status of the inhabitants in the different parts of the mandated territory. 2. Personnel. It is requested that full information be given in future reports as to the number of French nationals holding official positions of any kind other than military in the territory, and the posts which they occupy, distinguishing those in the pay of the Mandatory and those in the employ of the native Governments ; what are the relations between army officers and the civil Government, and what are the regulations concerning the appointment of native officials. Publications of the League of Nations VI.A. MANDATES S- d llT so o (A) + 800 (F) 3/26. — Imp. de la “T. de C,.". 1926. VI.A. 2 x ; x A -v ■ fgt 591 gfe at g - f e — j ■---■'*"ï X ■;- i " - ioc-- -,s SÜH**-s *~> r 5UUÔ5J-- ' "'■li \u ' '■ ï ' > /,■- >mf« * 3. Justice. The Commission desires to be kept informed as to the success of (hé system of introducing French judges into the native courts in the Great Lebanon. 4. International Conventions. The Commission would welcome further information as to the steps taken by the mandatory Power to adhere, on behalf of Syria and the Lebanon, to the conventions mentioned in Article 12 of the Mandate, and to the Convention on the Use of White Phosphorus in the Manufacture of Matches. 5. Antiquities Law. The Commission, taking note of the statement of the accredited representative concerning the Antiquities Law which" the mandatory Power was required by the mandate to enact within one year, understands that it will be promulgated without delay. It is requested that a complete list of permits granted and refused during 1924 and 1925 be communicated to the. Commission. 6. Labour. The Commission desires to find in the next report a complete account of all legislation or administrative decrees applying to corvées, paid or unpaid ; of the number of workers so employed and the number of days of work under the corvées during the year ; and of measures taken by the Government to prevent abuses which might arise from this system. 7. Education. The Commission would like particularly to be informed of progress made in the training of teachers for primary and secondary schools. 8. Public Health. The Commission notes with satisfaction the efforts made in the interest of public health. It would like to have more detailed information concerning the regulation of prostitution. It would attach importance to the presentation of statistics of natality and infant mortality. - 9. Economic DevelopMent. In regard to the plans of the mandatory Power for the general improvement of economic conditions in the territory, particularly by the develop­ ment of public works and services, industry and agriculture, the Commission hopes that they will not prove too onerous for the possibilities of the country, and that the full collaboration of the local authorities will be obtained. The Commission would ask for a list of public tenders and concessions for the con­ struction of public works in the mandated territory which were granted during 1924 and 1925, in addition to those for irrigation and electric power which are mentioned in the 1924 report, also a list of permits for prospecting licences and concessions of land, showing the nationality of the concessionaires. It would also be glad to be kept informed of the results of the practical application of the new system of the adjudication of concessions which is described in the 1924 report. The Commission noted with satisfaction that the Armenian refugees had to a large extent found it possible to earn their living in the country. It will follow' with interest the results of the examination by the mandatory Power of the possibility of settling certain of these refugees on suitable agricultural lands. The offer of the accredited representative to furnish further information concerning the measures taken to ensure the food supply of the country in case of shortage was noted. 10. The Hedjaz Railway. The Commission noted with satisfaction the assurance of the accredited representative that the mandatory Power had been able to bring about radical improvement in the administration of the Hedjaz Railway. It asks, however, that further data concerning the Hedjaz Railway be given in future reports, especially as regards the solution of the problem of the legal ownership of the line, the exact terms of the arrangement under which it is operated, the regulations in force concerning fares, and full explanations concerning the financial condition of the railway. 11. Customs. Complaints alleging discriminatory treatment of imports into Syria by the Customs officials according to the nationality of the senders or importers h a v in g been made, the accredited representative took note of them without recognising in principle that they were well founded, and the Commission requests the mandator)7 Power to give all necessary explanations. The Commission hopes that the ad valorem duties will be replaced as soon as possible by specific duties. The Commission would ask to have the text of th e Turkish-Syrian Customs Convention of September 1925 communicated to it. It would be interested to know the extent to which the supplies intended for the French armed forces are subjected to Customs duties. 12. Public Finance. The Commission was interested to learn that, throughout certain portions of the territory, the imposition of a fixed tax had been substituted for the farming of the tithes. It would be glad to be kept informed of the extent to which this change has been made, the way in which it has been received by the people and the views of the mandatory Power on the success of the new measures. 13. Demographic Statistics. It is requested that as complete statistics as may be possible concerning the population of the territory, classified by States, by religion and by nationality, be inserted regularly in the annual reports. 14. Documentation. Article 17 of the Mandate provides that “copies of all laws and regulations promulgated during the year shall be attached to the said (annual) report”. ’ It is with regret that the Commission, which recalled this obligation in the report on its fifth session, finds it necessary to note that the texts in question have not been communicated to it with any of the reports of the mandatory Power on Syria, and that it has in consequence been handicapped in its effort to understand the situation in the mandated territory.