SCMS; ESSENTIAL FACTS ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS GENEVA 1939 1. league Buildings. 2. International I.abour Office. 3. Palais Wilson (former seat of the Secretariat of the league of Nations, now a centre of private international organisations). 4. “ I/a Pelouse ”, the residence of the Secretary-General of the league of Nations. Dotted area: Properties belonging to or at the disposal of the Deague of Nations. ESSENTIAL FACTS ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS TENTH EDITION (REVISED) GEN EVA 1 939 INFORMATION SECTION NOTE This publication, which has been prepared by the Informa- tion Section of the League of Nations Secretariat, is not to be regarded as an official document for which the League of Nations is responsible. Passages from the text of the Covenant of the League of Nations appear in heavy type. The complete text of the Covenant is at the beginning of this book. 1 he information herein contained has been revised down to December 31st, 1938. TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I THE COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS Page PREFACE 9 TEXT OF THE COVENANT n PART II MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE THE STATES MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE 34 PART III CONSTITUTION AND ORGANISATION I. GENERAL FACTS ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS : GENERAI, OUTGINE 43 II. THE QUESTION OF THE REFORM OF THE LEAGUE 56 III. THE ORGANS OF THE LEAGUE : A. THE ASSEMBLY 62 B. THE COUNCIL 7i C. THE PERMANENT SECRETARIAT 9° IV. AUXILIARY ORGANISATIONS 97 V. THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANI- SATION 99 VI. THE PERMANENT COURT OF INTERNA- TIONAL JUSTICE 108 VII. THE BUDGET OF THE LEAGUE 115 4050. — S.d.N. 2.250 (F.). 3.250 (A.). 5/39. — Imp.OFFICE PUBLICITY, Brux. — 6 — Page PART IV POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF THE LEAGUE I. ORGANISATION OF PEACE : A. PACIFIC SFTTFFMRNT OF DISPUTES 120 B. SECURITY 130 C. DISARMAMENT I40 D. CONVENTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES AND SECURITY. 151 E. POLITICAL QUESTIONS DEALT WITH BY THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS l6l II. THE MANDATES SYSTEM200 III. PROTECTION OF MINORITIES209 TV. THE HIGH COMMISSARIAT FOR THE FREE CITY OF DANZIG 215 V. QUESTION OF ALEXANDRETTA AND ANTIOCH 217 VI. THE COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY FOR EUROPEAN UNION 222 PART V TECHNICAL WORK OF THE LEAGUE I. ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL WORK 227 II. COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSIT 245 III. HEALTH 256 IV. INTELLECTUAL CO-OPERATION 265 V. SOCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN WORK 274 VI. CAMPAIGN AGAINST NARCOTICS283 VII. REFUGEE RELIEF WORK 294 Page VIII. SLAVERY 298 IX. TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION OF THE LEAGUE WITH THE CHINESE GOVERN- MENT 300 PART VI ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE LEAGUE I. INTERNATIONAL BUREAUX 305 II. THE RED CROSS 305 III. THE INTERNATIONAL RELIEF UNION... 306 PART VII RELATIONS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD I. PUBLICITY 3°9 II. THE SALES DEPARTMENT: CATALOGUES. 311 III. THE PRESS 3i 1 IV. THE INFORMATION SECTION 3!2 V. LIAISON WITH PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS 3r4 VI. THE LIBRARY 314 VII. RADIO-NATIONS 315 VIII. BUILDINGS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS 318 IX. SPECIAL STAMPS 321 — 8 — PART VIII j ANNEXES Page I. HISTORICAL SUMMARY 325 II. CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS CON- CLUDED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE LEAGUE 339 III. INDEX 345 PLANS AND CHARTS League Properties in Geneva Frontispiece Map of the World Inset between 40 and 41 States that have been Non-permanent Members of the Council g Upper Silesia (Map) **’’]’ l6 Gran Chaco Territory (Map) I7, Leticia Trapezium (Map) jgj. Ethiopia and Neighbouring Countries (Map).... 186 Mandated Territories (Map) ’ ^ 20I Territory of the Free City of Danzig (Map) ...!!!!”! 215 Territory of Alexandretta and Antioch (Map) 218 New International Road Signals (Chart) 251 Some of the Activities of the Health Organisation of the League (Map) T 257 Range of Communication from Radio-Nations (Chart). 3i6 Plan of the New League Buildings gxg TfOR twenty years, haunted and obsessed by the thought A of the last war, the States Members of the League have been trying to ensure a lasting peace by building up an international society based on law. Yet, while publicity was keeping the public’s attention focussed upon the evolu- tion of collective security, the League of Nations was gra- dually discovering, in the work of its technical organisations, new methods of international collaboration, without which, in my opinion, no future peace can bear its fruits. There are too many factors of change; movements of populations; immigration; revolutions in technical pro- cesses. Constant changes in the balance between the various kinds of agricultural and industrial production, and in the respective roles of machinery and manual work; in the organisation of labour; in the transformation of raw materials; in financial and commercial relations; in transport, aviation, wireless. Are the adjustments to be determined by force only, or will it be recognised that they must, if we are to avoid periodic disasters, inevitably be brought within a framework of voluntary co-operation, such as is afforded by the League? It was with great satisfaction that we received the testi- mony of the Secretary of State Mr. Cordell Hull, who, in his recent note to the League, stated : “ The League has been responsible for the develop- ment of mutual exchange and discussion of ideas and methods to a greater extent and in more fields of humanitarian and scientific endeavour than any other organisation in history. The United States Govern- ment is keenly aware of the value of this type of general interchange and desires to see it extended." I do not wish to suggest that organised international collaboration cannot be fruitful except within the framework of the League. Certainly the League is not doomed to remain for ever stereotyped and unchanging. The extent of its Members’ obligations may vary according to political and geographical circumstances ; its action, its forms and its methods of procedure have evolved and may continue to evolve. Differences of outlook or civilisation may be reconciled. Every new step in organising international relations on a basis of voluntary collaboration can only be welcomed by the League. It is perhaps a bold thing, in this period of chaos and anguish through which the world is passing, beset with dread lest methods of violence should bring upon it a disastrous war, to set up here a monument to the League of Nations. Yet it is not a rash thing to do. I ask all nations to look upon it as evidence not merely of confidence but of faith in peaceful collaboration among the nations. Without such collaboration, civilisation to-day cannot go on; and that being so, let us not permit the League to perish, even though it stand amid ruin. The graver the world situation, the greater will be the need for it. It will be upheld by our faith and our work. L',xtract from the Secretary-General’s speech, read in New York at the opening of the League of Nations Pavilion at the World’s Fair on May 2nd, 1939. PART I THE COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS 1 PREAMBLE: 2 The High Contracting Parties, In order to promote international co-operation and to achieve international peace and security by the acceptance of obligations not to resort to war, by the prescription of open, just and honourable relations between nations, 1 Text numbered in conformity with the resolution adopted by the seventh ordinary session of the Assembly on September 16th, 1926, and containing Article 6 as amended, in force since August 13th, 1924, Articles 12, 13 and 15 as amended, in force since September 26th, 1924, and Article 4 as amended, in force since July 29th, 1926. The texts printed in italics indicate the amendments. 2 On September 30th, 1938, the Assembly voted the following amendment (not in force) to the Preamble : The Preamble shall read as follows : “ In order to promote international co-operation and to achieve inter- national peace and security “ by the acceptance of obligations not to resort to war, “by the prescription of open, just and honourable relations between nations, “ by the firm establishment of the understandings of international law as the actual rule of conduct among Governments, and “ by the maintenance of justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty obligations in the dealings of organised peoples with one another, “ This Covenant has been adopted jor the establishment of the League of Nations.” by the firm establishment of the understandings of inter- national law as the actual rule of conduct among Governments, and by the maintenance of justice and a scrupulous respect for ah treaty obligations in the dealings of organised peoples with one another. Agree to this Covenant of the League of Nations. ARTICLE I.1 1. The original Members of the League of Nations shall be those of the Signatories which are named in the Annex to this Covenant and also such of those other States named in the Annex as shall accede without reservation to this Covenant. Such accession shall be effected by a Declaration deposited with the Secretariat within two months of the coming into force of the Covenant. Notice thereof shall be sent to all other Members of the League. 2. Any fully self-governing State, Dominion or Colony not named in the Annex may become a Member of the League if its admission is agreed to by two-thirds of the Assembly, provided that it shall give effective guarantees of its sincere intention to observe its international obligations, and shall 1 On September 30th, 1938, the Assembly voted the following amendment (not in force) to Article 1 : Paragraph 1 shall be struck out. Paragraph 2 shall become paragraph 1 and shall read as follows: “ 1. Any fully self-governing State, Dominion or Colony not being a Member 0/ the League of Nations may become a Member thereof if its admis- sion is agreed to by two-thirds of the Assembly, provided that it shall give effective guarantees of its sincere intention to observe its international obligations, and shall accept such regulations as may be prescribed by the Eeague in regard to its military, naval and air forces and armaments.” Paragraph 3 shall become paragraph 2.