International Court of Justice Request By

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

International Court of Justice Request By INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE REQUEST BY THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR AN ADVISORY OPINION ON THE “LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE SEPARATION OF THE CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO FROM MAURITIUS IN 1965” WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA MARCH 1, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I – INTRODUCTION .............................................................................1 CHAPTER II – BACKGROUND: THE NATURE OF THE BILATERAL DISPUTE ...................................................................................................................2 CHAPTER III – THIS CASE PRESENTS COMPELLING REASONS FOR THE COURT TO DECLINE TO PROVIDE THE OPINION REQUESTED ........... 8 A. The Court was not provided advisory jurisdiction under its Statute to adjudicate disputes between States....................................................................................................... 9 B. The Court’s jurisprudence affirms that the advisory opinion function should not be used to adjudicate disputes between States. ...................................................................... 10 C. The Court should decline to respond to the General Assembly’s request because the request calls for the adjudication of a bilateral territorial dispute between Mauritius and the United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom has not provided its consent to judicial settlement by this Court. ...................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER IV – CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO THE QUESTIONS REFERRED .............................................................................................................17 A. The questions in the referral would need to be clarified in order for the Court to address them...................................................................................................................... 18 B. The General Assembly’s decolonization policy is distinct from whether a specific legal obligation existed at the relevant time. .................................................................... 20 C. To answer the questions referred, the Court would need to determine whether a new rule of international law had emerged at the relevant time. .............................................. 21 D. Through the end of the 1960s, no rule had emerged under customary international law that would have prohibited the establishment of the British Indian Ocean Territory. ...... 23 CHAPTER V – CONCLUSION ..............................................................................40 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 In its Order dated July 14, 2017, the Court invited the United Nations and its Member States to submit written statements on the questions referred to the Court by the U.N. General Assembly in its resolution 71/292 of June 22, 2017. The United States appreciates the opportunity to furnish its observations on these questions and to convey its concerns regarding the Court’s consideration of the General Assembly’s request for an advisory opinion. 1.2 The United States voted against the General Assembly’s referral resolution because it concerns a bilateral territorial dispute between Mauritius and the United Kingdom concerning sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.1 The United States believes that this case raises serious questions about the propriety of utilizing the Court’s advisory jurisdiction in light of the fundamental principle that a State is not obliged to allow its disputes to be submitted for judicial settlement without its consent. It is clear that the United Kingdom, one of the parties to this bilateral dispute, has not given that consent.2 1.3 This Statement begins, in Chapter II, by briefly describing the context in which the General Assembly’s referral resolution should be understood. 1.4 Chapter III identifies compelling reasons why the Court should not provide an advisory opinion in this case. Most notably, to do so would circumvent the fundamental principle that a State is not obliged to submit its disputes to judicial settlement without its consent. 1.5 Chapter IV first identifies several issues the Court would need to consider were it to examine the questions referred, including the problematic framing of those questions. Chapter IV then demonstrates the absence of any international law rule in 1965 that would have made the establishment of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) unlawful. These considerations help to confirm why the dispute that is the subject of the questions referred is not appropriate to address through the Court’s advisory jurisdiction. 1.6 Chapter V concludes the Statement by respectfully requesting that the Court decline to provide the opinion requested. 1 U.N. Doc. A/71/PV.88 (June 22, 2017) [Dossier No. 6], p. 13. This Statement uses the term “Chagos Archipelago” to describe the group of islands that comprise the British Indian Ocean Territory. 2 See id., p. 11. - 1 - CHAPTER II BACKGROUND: THE NATURE OF THE BILATERAL DISPUTE 2.1 The United States anticipates that Mauritius and the United Kingdom will provide the Court with the pertinent background on their dispute concerning sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago. The United States therefore does not intend to set forth here a comprehensive factual overview. 2.2 Instead, in this Chapter, the United States will describe the context in which the General Assembly’s referral resolution should be understood. This context will illustrate the point that the present request for an advisory opinion concerns the longstanding territorial dispute between the two States, and in fact represents an attempt to enlist the Court to adjudicate the same sovereignty claim Mauritius has been pressing in other fora. 2.3 The General Assembly, in its resolution 71/292, requested the Court to render an advisory opinion on the following questions: (a) Was the process of decolonization of Mauritius lawfully completed when Mauritius was granted independence in 1968, following the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius and having regard to international law, including obligations reflected in General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 2066 (XX) of 16 December 1965, 2232 (XXI) of 20 December 1966 and 2357 (XXII) of 19 December 1967?; (b) What are the consequences under international law, including obligations reflected in the above-mentioned resolutions, arising from the continued administration by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of the Chagos Archipelago, including with respect to the inability of Mauritius to implement a programme for the resettlement on the Chagos Archipelago of its nationals, in particular those of Chagossian origin? 2.4 The United States voted against adoption of this resolution because of concerns that it is not an appropriate subject for an advisory opinion. As the United States explained in the General Assembly debate: By pursuing the draft resolution, Mauritius seeks to invoke the Court’s advisory opinion jurisdiction not for its intended purpose but rather to circumvent the Court’s lack of contentious jurisdiction over this purely bilateral matter … . While Mauritius is attempting to frame this as an issue of decolonization relevant to the international community, at its heart it is a bilateral territorial dispute, and the United Kingdom has not consented to the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice … . The advisory function of the International Court of Justice was not intended to settle disputes between States.3 3 Id., p. 13. - 2 - 2.5 Indeed, the origin of this referral request stems from a State-to-State sovereignty claim by Mauritius against the United Kingdom that arose more than a decade after Mauritius gained its independence in 1968. 2.6 The United Kingdom has exercised sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago without interruption since the nineteenth century. For most of this time, the United Kingdom administered the islands as a Lesser Dependency of the British colony of Mauritius. In November 1965, the United Kingdom adjusted these administrative arrangements, and since then it has administered the Chagos Archipelago as the BIOT. 2.7 In 1966, the United States entered into a bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom regarding the establishment of a joint U.S.-U.K. military facility in the BIOT.4 The 1966 Agreement remains in force today, as amended. Over the years, the United States and United Kingdom have also concluded supplemental agreements.5 The 1966 Agreement and supplemental agreements have been registered with the United Nations Treaty Office pursuant to Article 102 of the U.N. Charter, and published in the U.N. Treaty Series.6 2.8 In 1968, Mauritius gained its independence; its territorial boundaries did not include the Chagos Archipelago. Over a decade later, Mauritius began asserting a claim to sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including in its annual statements at the opening of the General Assembly.7 2.9 Given the joint military facility in the BIOT, Mauritius has raised its territorial claim with the United States on a number of occasions. The United States has been clear in these discussions that the United Kingdom is sovereign over the BIOT. That said, the United States greatly values its warm relations with both Mauritius and the United Kingdom, and has encouraged the two parties to the dispute to resolve the matter on a bilateral basis. 2.10 Prior to this request for an advisory opinion, Mauritius has also pursued its sovereignty claim against the United Kingdom through legal avenues,
Recommended publications
  • Two Case Studies in Self-Determination: the Rock and the Bailiwick
    Two Case Studies in Self-Determination: The Rock and the Bailiwick INGE V. PORTER* TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 340 II. SELF-DETERMINATION ....................................................................................... 342 A. History...................................................................................................... 342 B. General Scope and Content...................................................................... 345 1. Decolonization................................................................................... 345 2. Post-Decolonization.......................................................................... 349 3. Historic Title ...................................................................................... 350 4. Limits to the Principleof Self-Determination.................................... 354 C. M icrostates ............................................................................................... 356 D. Future Trends ........................................................................................... 357 1. The Demise of the Principle of Self-Determination?......................... 357 2. Self-Determination as Customary Law .............................................. 358 3. Self-Determination as a Right to a Democratic Form of Government ......................................................................... 360 III. THE CASE OF GIBRALTAR ................................
    [Show full text]
  • BRITISH AFRICA 1955-1959 INTERNAL AFFAIRS Decimal Numbers 745,745B-X, 845, 845B-X, 945, and 945C-X and FOREIGN AFFAIRS Decimal Numbers 645, 645C-W, And611.45C-W
    A Guide to the Microfilm Edition of Confidential U.S. State Department Central Files BRITISHAFRICA INTERNAL AFFAIRS and FOREIGN AFFAIRS 1955-1959 UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS OF AMERICA A Guide to the Microfilm Edition of Confidential U.S. State Department Central Files BRITISH AFRICA 1955-1959 INTERNAL AFFAIRS Decimal Numbers 745,745B-X, 845, 845B-X, 945, and 945C-X and FOREIGN AFFAIRS Decimal Numbers 645, 645C-W, and611.45C-W Project Coordinator Gregory Murphy Guide compiled by Blair D. Hydrlck A microfilm project of UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS OF AMERICA An Imprint of CIS 4520 East-West Highway • Bethesda, MD 20814-3389 Library of Congress Catatoging-in-Publlcatlon Data Confidential U.S. State Department central files. British Africa, 1955-1959 [microform]: internal affairs, decimal numbers 745, 745B-X, 845,845B-X, 945, and 945C-X, and foreign affairs, decimal numbers 645,645C-W, and 611.45C-W / [project coordinator, Gregory Murphy], microfilm reels Accompanied by printed reel guide compiled by Blair D. Hydrick. Includes index. ISBN 1-55655-407-9 (microfilm) 1. Great Britain-Colonies-Africa-History-Sources. 2. Africa, Sub-Saharan-History-1884-1960~Sources. 3. United States. Dept. of State-Archives. I. Murphy, Gregory, 1960- . II. Hydrick, Blair. III. United States. Dept. of State. IV. University Publications of America (Firm) [DT32.5] 327.7306~dc20 92-33238 CIP The documents reproduced in this publication are among the records of the U.S. Department of State in the custody of the National Archives of the United States. No copyright is claimed in these official U.S. government records. Compilation ° 1991 by University Publications of America.
    [Show full text]
  • Report British Togoland
    c. 452 (b). M. 166 (b). 1925. VI. Geneva, September 3rd, 1925. REPORTS OF MANDATORY POWERS Submitted to the Council of the League of Nations in Accordance with Article 2 2 of the Covenant and considered by the Permanent Mandates Commission at its Sixth Session (June-July 1 9 2 5 J. VI REPORT BY HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT ON THE ADMINISTRATION UNDER MANDATE OF BRITISH TOGOLAND FOR THE YEAR 1924 SOCIÉTÉ DES NATIONS — LEAGUE OF NATIONS GENÈVE — 1925 ---- GENEVA NOTES BY THE SECRETARIAT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS This edition of the reports submitted to the Council of the League of Nations by the Mandatory Powers under Article 22 of the Covenant is published in exe­ cution of the following resolution adopted by the Assembly on September 22nd, 1924, at its Fifth Session : “ The Assembly . requests that the reports of the Mandat­ ory Powders should be distributed to the States Members of the League of Nations and placed at the disposal of the public wrho may desire to purchase them. ” The reports have generally been reproduced as received by the Secretariat. In certain cases, however, it has been decided to omit in this new edition certain legislative and other texts appearing as annexes, and maps and photographs contained in the original edition published by the Mandatory Power. Such omissions are indicated by notes by the Secretariat. The annual report on the administration of Togoland under British mandate for the year 1924 was received by the Secretariat on June 15th, 1925, and examined by the Permanent Mandates Commission on July 6th, 1925, in the presence of the accredited representative of the British Government, Captain E.
    [Show full text]
  • Country Coding Units
    INSTITUTE Country Coding Units v11.1 - March 2021 Copyright © University of Gothenburg, V-Dem Institute All rights reserved Suggested citation: Coppedge, Michael, John Gerring, Carl Henrik Knutsen, Staffan I. Lindberg, Jan Teorell, and Lisa Gastaldi. 2021. ”V-Dem Country Coding Units v11.1” Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project. Funders: We are very grateful for our funders’ support over the years, which has made this ven- ture possible. To learn more about our funders, please visit: https://www.v-dem.net/en/about/ funders/ For questions: [email protected] 1 Contents Suggested citation: . .1 1 Notes 7 1.1 ”Country” . .7 2 Africa 9 2.1 Central Africa . .9 2.1.1 Cameroon (108) . .9 2.1.2 Central African Republic (71) . .9 2.1.3 Chad (109) . .9 2.1.4 Democratic Republic of the Congo (111) . .9 2.1.5 Equatorial Guinea (160) . .9 2.1.6 Gabon (116) . .9 2.1.7 Republic of the Congo (112) . 10 2.1.8 Sao Tome and Principe (196) . 10 2.2 East/Horn of Africa . 10 2.2.1 Burundi (69) . 10 2.2.2 Comoros (153) . 10 2.2.3 Djibouti (113) . 10 2.2.4 Eritrea (115) . 10 2.2.5 Ethiopia (38) . 10 2.2.6 Kenya (40) . 11 2.2.7 Malawi (87) . 11 2.2.8 Mauritius (180) . 11 2.2.9 Rwanda (129) . 11 2.2.10 Seychelles (199) . 11 2.2.11 Somalia (130) . 11 2.2.12 Somaliland (139) . 11 2.2.13 South Sudan (32) . 11 2.2.14 Sudan (33) .
    [Show full text]
  • Uti Possidetis Juris, and the Borders of Israel
    PALESTINE, UTI POSSIDETIS JURIS, AND THE BORDERS OF ISRAEL Abraham Bell* & Eugene Kontorovich** Israel’s borders and territorial scope are a source of seemingly endless debate. Remarkably, despite the intensity of the debates, little attention has been paid to the relevance of the doctrine of uti possidetis juris to resolving legal aspects of the border dispute. Uti possidetis juris is widely acknowledged as the doctrine of customary international law that is central to determining territorial sovereignty in the era of decolonization. The doctrine provides that emerging states presumptively inherit their pre-independence administrative boundaries. Applied to the case of Israel, uti possidetis juris would dictate that Israel inherit the boundaries of the Mandate of Palestine as they existed in May, 1948. The doctrine would thus support Israeli claims to any or all of the currently hotly disputed areas of Jerusalem (including East Jerusalem), the West Bank, and even potentially the Gaza Strip (though not the Golan Heights). TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 634 I. THE DOCTRINE OF UTI POSSIDETIS JURIS ........................................................... 640 A. Development of the Doctrine ..................................................................... 640 B. Applying the Doctrine ................................................................................ 644 II. UTI POSSIDETIS JURIS AND MANDATORY BORDERS ........................................
    [Show full text]
  • British Southern Cameroon (Anglophone)
    American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research (AJHSSR) 2021 American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research (AJHSSR) e-ISSN :2378-703X Volume-5, Issue-4, pp-555-560 www.ajhssr.com Research Paper Open Access British Southern Cameroon (Anglophone) Crisis in Cameroon and British (Western) Togoland Movement in Ghana: Comparing two Post-Independence separatist conflicts in Africa Joseph LonNfi, Christian Pagbe Musah The University of Bamenda, Cameroon ABSTRACT: The UN trust territories of British Togoland and British Southern Cameroons at independence and following UN organised plebiscites, choose to gain independence by joining the Republic of Ghana and the Republic of Cameroon in 1955 and 1961 respectively. Today, some indigenes of the two territories are protesting against the unions and are advocating separation. This study, based on secondary sources, examines the similarities and differences between the two secession movements arguing that their similar colonial history played in favour of today’s conflicts and that the violent, bloody and more advanced conflict in Cameroon is inspiring the movement in favour of an independent Western Togoland in Ghana. It reveals that colonial identities are unfortunately still very strong in Africa and may continue to obstruct political integration on the continent for a long time. Key Words: Anglophones, Cameroon, Ghana, Secession, Togolanders, I. INTRODUCTION In July1884, Germany annexed Togoland and Kamerun (Cameroon). When the First World War started in Europe, Anglo-French forces invaded Togoland and Cameroon and defeated German troops in these colonies. In 1916, Togoland was partitioned into British Togoland and French Togoland while Cameroon was also partitioned like Togoland into two unequal portions of British Cameroons and French Cameroun.
    [Show full text]
  • Table 2. Geographic Areas, and Biography
    Table 2. Geographic Areas, and Biography The following numbers are never used alone, but may be used as required (either directly when so noted or through the interposition of notation 09 from Table 1) with any number from the schedules, e.g., public libraries (027.4) in Japan (—52 in this table): 027.452; railroad transportation (385) in Brazil (—81 in this table): 385.0981. They may also be used when so noted with numbers from other tables, e.g., notation 025 from Table 1. When adding to a number from the schedules, always insert a decimal point between the third and fourth digits of the complete number SUMMARY —001–009 Standard subdivisions —1 Areas, regions, places in general; oceans and seas —2 Biography —3 Ancient world —4 Europe —5 Asia —6 Africa —7 North America —8 South America —9 Australasia, Pacific Ocean islands, Atlantic Ocean islands, Arctic islands, Antarctica, extraterrestrial worlds —001–008 Standard subdivisions —009 History If “history” or “historical” appears in the heading for the number to which notation 009 could be added, this notation is redundant and should not be used —[009 01–009 05] Historical periods Do not use; class in base number —[009 1–009 9] Geographic treatment and biography Do not use; class in —1–9 —1 Areas, regions, places in general; oceans and seas Not limited by continent, country, locality Class biography regardless of area, region, place in —2; class specific continents, countries, localities in —3–9 > —11–17 Zonal, physiographic, socioeconomic regions Unless other instructions are given, class
    [Show full text]
  • Factors Influencing the United Nations' Role in the Decisions on the Future
    University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1958 Factors influencing the United Nations' oler in the decisions on the future of British and French Togolands Thomas Eugene Nyquist The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Nyquist, Thomas Eugene, "Factors influencing the United Nations' oler in the decisions on the future of British and French Togolands" (1958). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 8758. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/8758 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FACTORS INFLUENCING THE UNITED NATIONS' ROLE IN THE DECISIONS ON THE FUTURE OF BRITISH AND FRENCH TOGOLANDS by THOMAS EUGENE NYQUIST B.A, Macalester College, 1956 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY 1958 Approved by: Chairman, Board of Examiners Dean, Graduate School ggn&i&SlSSS Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMl Number; EP39559 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted.
    [Show full text]
  • British Togoland Movement: an Offshoot of Historical Creations
    Faculty of Humanities, and Social Sciences and Education BRITISH TOGOLAND MOVEMENT: AN OFFSHOOT OF HISTORICAL CREATIONS Agbessi Laglo SVF-3901 Master’s Thesis in Peace and Conflict Transformation … May 2019 DEDICATION To my wife: For your untiring care and support. To my beautiful daughter: For always putting smile in my face To my mother, brother and sister: For sacrificing everything you cherish for my success To all peace lovers: For your endless fight for what the world needs most …you all deserve a big thank you! i ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I wish to express my profound gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Christine Smith-Simonson for her guidance throughout this study. Her patience for me in difficult times made me believe that there is always a chance to do better. Her advice and suggestions helped me build self- confidence and kept me in a better position to see through issues regarding this study. My gratitude equally goes to the entire staff of Centre for Peace Studies (CPS) at University of Tromso for preparing me academically to embark on this research journey. Their purpose- oriented academic curriculum and excellent delivery made CPS a Centre of excellence and cannot go unnoticed. Their contribution to my success goes beyond the academic field. They gave us (students) the feel of what happens beyond the walls of the Institution by organizing seminars, conferences and trips which have exposed us to the global world. Finally, I wish to thank my family especially my wife, daughter, mother brother and sister for their support and care. To you all my friends and course mates, I am honored for having you in my life.
    [Show full text]
  • Territorial Claims As a Limitation to the Right of Self-Determination in the Context of the Falkland Islands Dispute
    Fordham International Law Journal Volume 6, Issue 3 1982 Article 3 Territorial Claims as a Limitation to the Right of Self-Determination in the Context of the Falkland Islands Dispute Alejandro Schwed∗ ∗ Copyright c 1982 by the authors. Fordham International Law Journal is produced by The Berke- ley Electronic Press (bepress). http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/ilj Territorial Claims as a Limitation to the Right of Self-Determination in the Context of the Falkland Islands Dispute Alejandro Schwed Abstract This Note will trace the development and present status of the right to self-determination under international law and its applicability to the decolonization of the Falkland Islands. No attempt will be made to determine whether Argentina’s claim to sovereignty over the Islands is valid. The focus will be, rather, on whether the right of self-determination as set out by the United Nations can be limited and superseded by competing territorial claims. TERRITORIAL CLAIMS AS A LIMITATION TO THE RIGHT OF SELF-DETERMINATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS DISPUTE INTRODUCTION The importance of resolving competing claims of nations to territories in the process of decolonization' was highlighted by the recent armed conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic.2 At stake in the Anglo-Argentine controversy are the Falkland Islands, 3 located 772 kilometers north-east of Ar- gentina's southern coast. 4 The Falklands are classified by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory,, a term used to describe a particular type of colony. 6 The process by which the territory should be decolonized has become the subject of much debate and controversy.
    [Show full text]
  • Name Sequence
    Name Sequence PART I: NAME SEQUENCE Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates : Emirate) Afghanistan [a-af] ã USE Ab Z. aby (United Arab Emirates : Africa [f] Emirate) Africa, Central [fc] ã Ab Z. aby (United Arab Emirates: Emirate) UF Central Africa Assigned code: Africa, East [a-ts] United Arab Emirates Assigned code: UF Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates : [fe] Africa, Eastern Emirate) UF British East Africa Abyssinia East Africa USE Ethiopia Africa, Eastern [fe] A.C.T. UF Eastern Africa USE Australian Capital Territory Africa, Equatorial Açores USE Africa, French-speaking Equatorial USE Azores Africa, French-speaking Equatorial [fq] Adamawa (Emirate) UF Africa, Equatorial Assigned code: French Equatorial Africa [f-cm] Cameroon French-speaking Equatorial Africa [f-nr] Nigeria Africa, French-speaking West Aden Assigned code: [Coded [a-ys] (Yemen (People’s [fw] Africa, West Democratic Republic) before Oct. 1992] UF French-speaking West Africa Assigned code: French West Africa [a-ye] Yemen (Republic) Africa, Italian East Aden (Protectorate) USE Africa, Northeast [Coded [a-ys] (Yemen (People’s Africa, North [ff] Democratic Republic) before Oct. 1992] UF North Africa Assigned code: Africa, Northeast [fh] [a-ye] Yemen (Republic) UF Africa, Italian East Aden, Gulf of East African Horn Assigned code: Italian East Africa [mr] Red Sea Northeast Africa UF Gulf of Aden Africa, Northwest Admiralty Islands (Papua New Guinea) Assigned code: Assigned code: [ff] Africa, North [a-pp] Papua New Guinea [fw] Africa, West Adriatic Sea UF Northwest Africa Assigned code:
    [Show full text]
  • League of Nations Mandate 1 League of Nations Mandate
    League of Nations mandate 1 League of Nations mandate A League of Nations mandate was a legal status for certain territories transferred from the control of one country to another following World War I, or the legal instruments that contained the internationally agreed-upon terms for administering the territory on behalf of the League. These were of the nature of both a treaty and constitution which contained minority rights clauses that provided for the right of petition and adjudication by the International Court.[1] The mandate system was established under Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, entered into on 28 June 1919. With the dissolution of the League of Nations after World War II, it was stipulated at the Yalta Conference that the remaining Mandates should be placed under the trusteeship of the United Nations, subject to future discussions and formal agreements. Most of the remaining mandates of the League of Nations (with the Mandates in the Middle East and Africa, which included: 1. exception of South-West Africa) thus eventually became Syria, 2. Lebanon, 3. Palestine, 4. Transjordan, 5. United Nations Trust Territories. Mesopotamia, 6. British Togoland, 7. French Togoland, 8. British Cameroons, 9. French Cameroun, 10. Ruanda-Urundi, 11. Tanganyika and 12. South-West Africa Generalities Some of the territories subject to League of Nations mandates were previously controlled by states defeated in World War I, principally Imperial Germany and the Ottoman Empire. The mandates were fundamentally different from the protectorates in that the Mandatory power undertook obligations to the inhabitants of the territory and to the League of Nations.
    [Show full text]