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[Distributed to the Council C. 580. M . 197. 1924. I. 0d the Members of the League.] (Extract from Official Journal, .)

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Geneva, October 10th, 1924.

FREE CITY OF DANZIG

GENERAL REPORT BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR THE PERIO D APRIL-OCTOBER 19241.

In forwarding this report, which is intended to serve as a reference document, to the Council and Members of the League, the Secretary-General has the honour to draw attention o the general review of Danzig and Polish-Danzig questions for the year - iugust 1924, which is contained in the report and the supplementary report to the Fifth Assembly on the work of the Council2.

I. Questions before the Council a t its 29th () a n d 3 0 th (A u g u s t - S e p t e m b e r -O c t o b e r 1924) S e s s i o n s .

In view of agreements or provisional agreements reached, as explained by the Rappor- itur at the opening of the Council session in June 1924, it was not necessary for the Council io deal during that session with one single Danzig question, although eight had originally en included on the agenda. The two questions mentioned below came before the Council at its following session 1. Quinones de Leôn, representative of Spain, acted as Rapporteur. His reports and the {solutions adopted by the Council on each question will be found in the Official Journal as nnexes to the Minutes.Other documents are indicated in footnotes to the present report.

1. Protection of the Interests in Poland of Danzig Nationals and Organisations.

The Committee of Jurists appointed by the Council on March 11th, 1924, reported that, its opinion, the was competent to deal with tlie questions referred to under the above title3. Two of the four cases (those of the West Prussia Life Insurance Company and the Bauern anlv) were settled3 as a result of negotiations conducted in accordance with a Polish-Danzig Teement of June 7th, 1924% in Danzig in , under the chairmanship of M. Weiller Milan. On September 9th, 1924, the Council requested the same Committee of Jurists Ï. Rotella and M. Unclcn) to examine the substance of the two other cases (those of Herr von uetzen-Kositzkau and Ilerr Schauer) from the legal standpoint7.

2. Expulsion of Danzig Nationals from Poland8.

The Council, on September 13th, 1924, after hearing the statements of the Danzig and 6 Polish representatives, requested certain legal experts to advise the Rapporteur as to hether that part of the High Commissioner’s decision of August 1st, 1924, dealing with four finite cases of expulsion, was in conformity with existing treaties and with international w and international practice.

1 For preceding report, see C. 181. M. 51. 1924. I, or Official Journal, , pp. 812-815. The present report 'srs the period up to October 1st, 1924. ! See A. 8. 1924 and A. 8(a). 1924. ■ See Documents C. 173. 1924. I. and C. 226. 1924. I. t See Document C. 179. 1924. I. C. 389.1924.1. (The High Commissioner has informed the Secretary-General that the assent of the Polish diplomatic rtsentative in Danzig, which was required for the final settlement, has been given). 7 Official Journal, , pp. 1061-1062. Additional statements on these cases were submitted by the Polish Government for the use of the Committee. See Documents C. 409. 1924. I. and C. 456. 1924. I. s- d. N. 600 (F) + 675 (A) 10/24. Imp. d’Ambilly. — 2 —

II. D e c i s i o n s b y t h e H ig h C ommissioner

At the request of the Danzig Senate, copies of a booklet1 (in English and German), prepared by the Danzig Government and containing the High Commissioner’s (M. MacDonnell’s) decisions given during 1923, have been circulated for the information of the Council and the Members of the League. Tabulated summaries, also prepared by the Danzig Senate, showing the legal position at the beginning of regarding the decisions of the High Commissioner given in 1921, 1922 and 1923, were circulated at the same time. Since the last general report on Danzig questions, the High Commissioner has given decisions on the following three questions :

1. The Conscription oj Franz Damaschke in the Polish Army.

Decision of July 23rd, 1924. The High Commissioner stated that the Polish Government had declared its intention of making a formal appeal, but had also expressed its readiness to negotiate with the Danzig Government.

2. Nomenclature of Places in Poland and Danzig to be used in Official Correspondence.

Decision of July 31st, 1924. Appeal by Danzig. The High Commissioner stated that the Danzig Government had expressed its willingness to enter into direct negotiations.

3. Expulsion of Danzig Nationals from Poland.

Decision of August 1st, 1924. Appeal by Danzig. (See under (I.— 2) above.)

III. P o l is h -D a n z ig A g r e e m e n t s .

1. Agreements concluded with the collaboration of the High Commissioner.

Since the last general report, the seven agreements mentioned below have been con­ cluded in Danzig, with the collaboration of the High Commissioner. Most of these agreements concerned questions which have already been brought before the Council at one time or another. (a),(b),(c)and(d). Agreements of Mag 4th, 19242, concerning : (a) the right of the Harbour Board to contract loans and to sell its immovable property ; (b) the Berne Railway Conference () and the signature of the Conventions drawn up at that Conference ; (c) the appli­ cation of Article 27 of the Warsaw Agreement of October 24th, 1921 (co-operation of the Polish authorities in the issue of passports to Danzig nationals abroad3), and (d) the manner in which the contractual position of the Free City is to be notified to the State concerned in the case of commercial treaties. (e) and (f). Agreements of June 7th, 1924, concerning (e) the question of the protection of the interests in Poland of Danzig nationals and organisations4 ; and (f) railway questions . Mr. J. A. Kalff, Director-General of Netherlands Railways, was appointed as Chairman and Mr. H. Marriott, of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co., as Technical Adviser for the negotiations provided for in the latter agreement, negotiations which began on September 15th, 1924. (g). Agreement of August 29th, 1924, concerning the Polish Postal Sorting OHice for overseas parcels1’.

2. Other Agreements concluded in 1924.

Four other agreements concluded in 1924 have been communicated to the Secretariat by the High Commissioner during this period. They are as follows : , (a). Agreement of February 14th, 1924, concerning guarantees for and the payment o 1 'gal expenses (as provided for in Article 61 of the Warsaw Agreement of October 24th, (b) and (c). Agreements of March 17th, 19247, concerning (b) double taxation an ( c.) judicial assistance in matters of taxation. (d). Agreement of July 4th, 1924, concerning frontier traffic.

' Sec Document C. 279. M. 88. 1921 I. , . ZlJ,jn 2 Agreements fa),

3. Agreements concluded between 1920 and 1923.

At the request of the Danzig Senate, copies of a book prepared by the Danzig Government, containing a collection . f agreements concluded between 1920 and 1923, is to be circulated to the Council for its information. This book contains the text of the following nine agreements, concluded since the establishment of the Free City, which have not previously been brought to the attention of the Council :

Railway Agreements.

(a). Provisional agreement of July 20th, 1921, regarding officiais ; (b). Final agreement of October 22nd, 1921, concerning officials ; (c), (d) and (e). Additional agreements supplementary to the agreement of September 23rd, 19211 ; (c) between the Polish Railway Administration and the Danzig Government, dated November 24th, 1921 ; (d) between the Polish Railway Administration and the Danzig Harbour Board, dated November 24th, 1921 ; and (e) between Danzig and Poland, iated December 20th, 1921.

Other Agreements.

(f) and (g). Protocols of March 17th, 1922, concerning : (j) the regulations of the sugar trade between Danzig and Poland, and (g) the traffic in petroleum in Danzig ; (h) Statement of December 2nd, 1922, by the President of the Danzig Senate, concern­ ing the registration of aliens ; (i) Protocol of August 3rd, 1923, concerning the provisional regulation of emigration and immigration through Danzig.

IV. O t h e r Q u e s t i o n s 2.

1. The Upkeep of the Mottlau and of the Kaiserhafen.

The text of the High Commissioner’s decision of October 19th, 1923, and of the Danzig appeal have been circulated to the Council3 and the observations of the Polish Government n the appeal have been received in the Secretariat. The two Governments have been con- ucting direct negotiations with a view to arriving at a settlement.

2. Financial Situation of the Free City1.

The work of the Economic and Financial Organisations of the League in the financial sphere as regards the Free City of Danzig5 was noted with satisfaction by the Fifth Assembly of the League6. The general budgets of the Free City and of the Municipality of Danzig for 19247 are to be published in the November (1924) number of the Official Journal.

3. The Post of High Commissioner.

(a) Contributions. The Danzig Government has, since the last report, paid to the Finan­ cial Administration of the League a total of 36,000 gold francs, the sum requested to meet one-half of the advances made by the League of Nations for the upkeep of the High Com­ missioner’s post from January 1st to June 30th, 1924. The Polish Government has paid 15,500 gold francs, the amount requested for the first quarter of 1924. (b) Audit. As provided for by the Council resolution of November 17th, 1920, the accounts of the High Commissioner’s post from August 1st, 1923, to April 30th, 1924, have been audited by the Financial Administration of the League. A copy of the report on these audits has been communicated to the Polish and Danzig Governments for their information, as well as to the High Commissioner. A summary of the receipts and the expenditure for this period is given below.

r e c e i p t s . £ s. d. Balance in hand on August 1st, 1923 ...... 11 13 0 Advances from the League of N atio n s...... 3,715 0 0 Banking interest and miscellaneous receipts...... 1 3 9 Total...... "3J27 16 9 Debit balance at bank on April 30th, 1924...... 375 15 8 ^4 103 12 5

* I.e. additional to those mentioned in the Official Journal for , p. 242. 2 The expenses of the Committee of Enquiry on the Depot for Polish war material in transit through Danzig amounted, anally to 8,845.80 Swiss francs. 3 C. 212. 1924. I. 1 The text of the Polish-Danzig agreement of January 23rd, 1924, concerning the Bank of Danzig, which supplements the agreement of September 22nd, 1923, was published in the Official Journal for August 1924 (pp. 1062-1063). 5 F. 151 and F. 185. * A. 94. 1924. II. and A .lll. 1924. II. ’ F. 154. — 4 —

EXPENDITURE.

Salaries and Wages. £ s. d High Commissioner’s salary ...... 2,141 9 7 Salaries of staff ...... 893 10 6 High-cost-of-living allowances to the Staff 242 0 0 Employees (hired locally)...... 174 1 6 Other Expenses. Travelling expenses and al owances...... 404 5 8 Motor-car ...... 68 7 9 Other expenses (light, fuel, etc.) ...... 115 1 10 Office supplies (telegrams, newspapers, etc.) 63 10 0 Bank charges ...... 0 15 7 Total 4,103 12 5

4. Miscellaneous Questions.

(a) The ratification for Danzig of the International Convention of September 30th, 1921, concerning the traffic in women and children has been deposited with the Secretariat by the Polish Government. (b) The Monthly Bulletin of Statistics (No. 4, 6 and 8, 5th year) and the Bulletin of the International University Information Office (No. 1) have contained special references to Danzig during this period. (c) The Secretariat has received correspondence through the Polish Government with reference to the traffic in opium as regards Danzig.