<r ESSENTIAL FACTS ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS GENEVA 1935 SDN.4223 ESSENTIAL FACTS ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS FOURTH EDITION (REVISED) GENEVA 1935 INFORMATION SECTION During this year of uncertainty, the League of Nations has reflected the anxieties of the world. It is emerging in strength from a period of profound depression. Admit- tedly, it is not a repository of hopes as enthusiastic as once were entertained, hut it remains the expression of a vital necessity. Its complex of obligations and under- takings is the ultimate law of world peace. Its mission must he to preserve a coherent organisation of international life and to adapt it to the needs of the times. Its methods, its traditions and its precedents are not inflexible. It would he vain to imagine that all change could he excluded, but, equally, it would he premature at this moment to change it altogether. In 1935, the Assembly will meet for the first time m its new Ariana buildings. With a deeper conviction of its permanent status, it will take stock of the forces Mich must be held together in order to ensure a world of ordered peace. it With confidence strengthened from having successfully emerged from a searching test and convinced of its own necessity, the League of Nations will doubtless contrive organically to adapt itself to the requirements of its mission.1 1 Extract from the introduction by the Secretary-General to the Report on the Work of the League since the Fourteenth Session of the Assembly. 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 included at the end of this brochure. — 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I CONSTITUTION AND ORGANISATION Page I. THE STATES MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE. 13 II. THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS 17 III. THE ORGANS OF THE LEAGUE : A. THE ASSEMBLY 23 B. THE COUNCIL 33 C. THE PERMANENT SECRETARIAT 51 IV. AUXILIARY ORGANISATIONS 58 -tr 'T'TTU TMTU'UNTA'T'TO'MAT, UABOUR ORGANI- 60 68 ERRATA 75 1. Page 13 : under Finland, “ Population at the end of 1932 ”, for 43.5 read 3.5. 2. Page 48 : in the graph “ States that have been non-permanent Members of the Council ”, against Portugal, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th squares from the right should be shaded—i.e., 81 from " 9 October 1933 ” to “ 1936 ”. ;.. 91 3. Page 290 : end of last paragraph, the name of M. Zaleski should come before that of M. Zumeta. :ITE, Brux. NOTE This publication, which has been prepared by the Informa- tion Section of the Teague of Nations Secretariat, is not to be regarded as an official document for which the Teague of Nations is responsible. Passages from the text of the Covenant of the Teague of Nations appear in heavy type. The complete text of the Covenant is included at the end of this — 7 — TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I CONSTITUTION AND ORGANISATION Page I. THE STATES MEMBERS OP THE TEAGUE. 13 II. THE TEAGUE OF NATIONS 17 III. THE ORGANS OF THE TEAGUE : A. THE ASSEMBLY 23 B. THE COUNCIL 33 C. THE PERMANENT SECRETARIAT 51 IV. AUXITIARY ORGANISATIONS 58 V. THE INTERNATIONAT TABOUR ORGANI- SATION 60 VI THE PERMANENT COURT OF INTERNA- TIONAT JUSTICE 68 VII. THE BUDGET OF THE TEAGUE 75 PART II POTITICAT ACTIVITIES OF THE TEAGUE I. ORGANISATION OF PEACE : A. PACIFIC SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES 81 B. SECURITY 91 S . d. N. 2.300 (F.), 3.300 (A.). 12/34. Impr. de 1’OFFICE DE PUBLICITE, Brux. — 3 — Page C. DISARMAMENT 99 D. CONVENTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES AND SECURITY. 107 E. POLITICAL DISPUTES DEALT WITH BY THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS 116 II. THE MANDATEvS SYSTEM 135 III. PROTECTION OF MINORITIES 142 IV. THE HIGH COMMISSARIAT FOR THE FREE CITY OF DANZIG 146 V. THE GOVERNING COMMISSION OF THE SAAR TERRITORY 148 VI. THE COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY FOR EUROPEAN UNION 151 PART III TECHNICAL WORK OF THE LEAGUE I. ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL WORK 155 II. COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSIT 167 III. HEALTH 175 IV. INTELLECTUAL CO-OPERATION 181 V. SOCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN WORK 188 VI. CAMPAIGN AGAINST NARCOTICS 193 VII. REFUGEE RELIEF WORK 203 — 9 — Page VIII. SLAVERY 204 IX. TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION OF THE LEAGUE WITH THE CHINESE GOVERN- MENT 206 PART IV ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE LEAGUE I. SPECIAL INSTITUTES 211 II. INTERNATIONAL BUREAUX 216 III. THE RED CROSS 217 IV. THE INTERNATIONAL RELIEF UNION.. 217 PART V RELATIONS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD I. PUBLICITY 221 II. THE SALES DEPARTMENT: CATALOGUES. 223 III. THE PRESS 223 IV. THE INFORMATION SECTION 223 V. LIAISON WITH PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS 224 VI. THE LIBRARY 225 VII. RADIO-NATIONS 226 VIII. BUILDINGS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS 228 IX. SPECIAL STAMPS 231 10 PART VI ANNEXES Page I. THE COVENANT 235 II. HISTORICAL, SUMMARY 252 HI. CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS CON- CEUDED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE TEAGUE 268 IV. PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES TO THE TEAGUE OF NATIONS 273 V. INDEX 277 PTANS AND CHARTS Page Map of Europe and of the World. Inset between 16 and 17 Organisation of the Teague 24-25 States which have sat as Non-permanent Members of the Council 48 The Secretariat (Chart) 5° Upper Silesia (Map) I:i9 Gran Chaco Territory (Map) I27 Teticia Trapezium (Map) I32 Mandated Territories (Map) '•••••• I36 States which have assumed International Obligations towards Minorities (Map) I43 Territory of the Free City of Danzig (Map) 146 Saar Territory (Map) I48 New Road Signals (Chart) I7I Singapore Bureau Wireless Stations (Map). T77 Range of Communication from Radio-Nations (Chart). 227 Plan of the Present Teague Buildings 229 Plan of the New Teague Buildings 230 PART I CONSTITUTION AND ORGANISATION 13 — I. STATES MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE Popu- lation Annual Area (mil- Units contribu- Date (thou- lions) of tion in of sands of at the contri- gold francs entry sq. km.) end of bution (1935) 1932 1. Abyssinia (3) 1923 900 5- 60,589.30 5 2. Afghanistan (3) 1934 650 7.0 30,294.65 3. South Africa (1) 1920' 1,222 8.3 15 454:419-55 4. Albania (2) 1920 28 1.0 1 30,294.65 5. Argentine (2) 1920 2,793 11.8 29 878,544-5o 6. Australia (1) 1920 7,704 6.6 27 8x7,955-20 7. Austria (3) 1920 84 6.7 S 242,357.10 8. Belgium (1) 1920 30 8.2 18 545,303-45 9. Bolivia (1) 1920 1,333 3° 121,178.55 1 4 0. United Kingdom (1) 1920 244 46.4 105 3,180,936.95 11. Bulgaria (3) 1920 103 6.0 151,473.20 1 5 2. Canada (1) 1920 9,542 10.6 .35 1,060,3x2.30 13. Chile (1) 1920 742 4.4 272,651.75 14. China (r) 1920 11,103 450.0 46 1,393,553-35 15. Colombia (1) 1920 1,150 8.8 5 I5I,473-20 16. Cuba (1) 1920 114 4.0 6 181,767.80 17. Czechoslovakia (1) 1920 140 14.9 29 878,544-5o 18. Denmark (2) 1920 43 3-6 363,535-65 Ig. Dominican Republic (3) 1923 50 i-3 30,294.65 2o. Ecuador (1) 1920 307 2.0 2 r. Estonia (3) 1921 48 1.1 90,883.90 22. Finland (3) 1920 388 43-5 302,946.35 23. France (1) 1920 551 41.8 79 2,393,276-35 24. Germany (3) 1926 469 65.x 63.41643 1,921,177-75 25. Greece (1) 1920 130 6- 2x2,062.45 5 26. Guatemala (1) 1920 no 2.2 30,294.65 27. Haiti (1) 1920 26 2.6 30,294.65 28. Honduras (1) 1920 120 0.9 30,294.65 29. Hungary (3) 1922 93 8.8 242,357.10 30. India (1) 1920 4,675 359-4 1,666,205.05 31. Iraq (3) 1932 303 3-3 90,883.90 — 14 — States Members of the League (continued) Popu- lation Annual 'Area (mil- Units contribu- Date (thou- lions) of tion in of sands of at the contri- gold francs entry sq. km.) end of bution (1935) 1932 32. Irish Free State (3) 1923 69 3.0 10 302,946.35 33. Italy (1) 1920 310 41.8 60 1,817,678.25 34. Japan (1) 1920 382 66.5 13.9726 423,294.85 35. Latvia (3) 1921 66 1- 90,883.90 9 3 36. Liberia (1) 1920 120 2- 30,2^4-65 5 1 37. Lithuania (1) 1921 56 2.4 4 121,178.55 38. Luxemburg (3) 1920 3 0.3 1 30,294.65 1 39. Mexico (3) I93 L969 17-3 13 393.830.30 40. Netherlands (2) 1920 34 8.2 23 696,776.65 41. New Zealand (1) 1920 268 1.5 10 302,946.35 42. Nicaragua (1) 1920 128 0.8 1 30,294.65 43. Norway (2) 1920 323 2.8 9 272,651.75 44. Panama (1) 1920 84 0.5 1 30,294-65 45. Paraguay (2) 1920 458 0.9 1 30,294.65 46. Persia (2) 1920 1,626 9.0 9 272.651.75 47. Peru (2) 1920 I>249 6.6 5 i5i,473.20 48. Poland (1) 1920 388 32.6 32 969,428.40 49.