c 131C. I I 1 ( jy A e V C L , O ^ p ’Ca C ~ ) IvloVo .'«WlH-cl U H i s bah-auo o(pW : S i t u â t ; C^v QÇ- v e ^ ^ e e j jiÇUÇ< e j ' A S,euwc^ Oswlvt /V< J , aî^S^^Ca, W , >. I eA»<hi'l(iA'* , ■** ■ PROCURATION VALABLE JîJÙ^Ü'AÜ 31 DECEMBRE 1929 Le Haut-Commissariat de ln Société des Nations pour les Réfugiés, à Genève, donne par les présentes procuration avec pouvoirs oe substitution à À. Georges Surnier, délégué du Haut-Commissariat en S;,-rie et au Liban, à l ’effet do re­ présenter le dit Haut-Commlssarlat et de faire tous actes que le représentant Jugera utiles, soit notamment, acheter, vendre avant ou après partage, soit à l’amiable, soir par telle forme et moyennant les prix que le représentant Jugera convenables, tous biens Immobiliers, toucher ou paver le prix des ùites ventes ou adjudications et en donner quittance, procéder à tous comptes, liquidations et, partages des biens appartenant ou Haut-Commissariat, nommer ou faire nommer tous experts pour les évaluations, former Scs lots, les tirer eu sort ou les distribuer à l'amiable, fixer toutes iioult.es, les recevoir ou les payer, remettre ou se faire remettre tous titres et pièces, en donner ou rytirer üéchargej à défaut de paiement ae la purt des üubiteuis, exercer toutes poursuites, contraintes ou diligences nécessaires, faire t.ous commande­ ments et toutes sommations, citer et comparaître tant en de­ mandant qu'en uéfendant uevunt tous tribunaux, prendre tous arrangements, faire toutes remises, accorder termes et délais, traiter, composer, transiger, compromettre en tout état de cause, nommer tous experts, arbitres et. aoisnlei* compositeurs, ^ lour donner tous pouvoirs et autorisations, s 1 en rnpportei à leurs décisions ou les contester, prendre toutes inscriptions hypothécaires, les renouveler, faire procéder à toutes saisies, ventes de meubles, consentir toutes radiations d'inscriptions, même celles inscrites, donner tous acquiescements et désiste­ ments. Fait à Genôve le 12 Janvier 1929» (Signé) T.F. Johnson, Assistant Hirh Commi:;.riuner for the Lcct;ue of Nations for heiugees. I H a h» DepH.^r^9gX9t-ry"Qgn9rftXt l l I beg to submit for your consideration and for eventual transmission to Dr.Max Huber a Memorandum by the Staff of the Refugee Section and a separate Memorandum by M.Nicolsky concerning their service under the International Office for Refugees. A l A s regarda the general Mamorandum, I sho 1 like to offer the following observations!- 1. The advantage enjoyed at present by the Staff as temporary members of the Secretariat, and referred to in paragraph (.:) on page 8 of the Memorandum, need not neceraarily be sacrificed by the total transfer of the Z -eff co the Office, as provision might conceivably be made by the Offlct for similar advantages of practically bsuivaient /alue. It 1: true that the co.' ‘inuaLion of their diploma ic privileges and immunities might encounter -rious difficulties unies' express pro-. .1 ion for them is m-ide in the Statutes of the Office. 2. A1 hough :.he statement in paragraph (2) on page 12, to the ef ect th.t the Office .ill continue in existence until December 31st, 1939 doe- no' interpret qu to accurately the Assembly Resolution on this subject, it is, I think ou'.te reasonable to conclude from the Assembly Résolutions and Htcom^endations on the refuge-j work as a /.hole that the headquarters services, as stabilised after transfer to the Office, will be require! for a minimum period of 5 >uars. It a o u I q be therefore, no- only equitable but in the interests of good administration to give the Staff thus transferred contracta for a Bir.lL-.ua period of 5 years. I ould add, in this connection, that in my opinion it oho Id be possible to effect a small reduction in buy permanent Staff at Headquartera ai a result of -he concentration of the Accountancy and Registry Services in one org ni 'if ion. 3, For many reasons I m strongly of the opinion tiiiit the bou. üolM'ion of th« many problems raised by the Staff during the past few yo ra would be that urged on p ge 10 of their Memorandum - i.e. that th y rhould be ap ointed a:; temporary members of the Secretariat and secondyd for servie with rhe Office. Such an arrange­ ment would not only dispose once and for all of the serious disabilities from A-hlch the Staff have suffered f.r s-,-yeral ve rs nd en-ure from them better services, but. ould be a guarantee to a certain extent that they o Id con1inue to perform their duties in conformity wi h the tra:ii ‘ ions of the League Secretariat. It sho 1 be recalled that the Advisory Commission for Refugees at its meeting in June mode a recommendation in this sense, and thit its a? 11cation ould be In accordance .ith the spirit, if no-; the letter, of the r e co-• .• n-1?•.1 ion? or' the Cosimittee of Thirteen. i ’. -• -1. -v i:-., moreover, that the Sixth Committee in its report adopted by the Assembly contemplated the continuation as temporary members of the Secretariat, of thos. officials ho are transferred to the Office. In that report the Co - It Lee stated:- "The Assembly will obviously desire to grant the customary nj'ice n compensation o the officials ho at present I'orm part f the League of Nations Refugee Service, i. so far x. thv International Office cannot make use of their services". It is clear that under the Staff Regulations those officials would be entitled automatically to the "customary notice and compensation" on the termination of their services under the Secretariat. It is reasonable to assume, the efore, that if they do not receive that notice and compensation oij transfer to the Office, they remain temporary members of the Secretariat. I would p lnt out that the continuation of these officials as members of the Secretariat need involv» the latter in no extra expenditure as the League contribution on their be­ half to the "Provident",and other funds would constitute a proper charge on the Refugee Budget. Bj. As regards M.Nicolsky’s Memorandum:- I cannot recommend that the statistical ••■ork and the collection of general Information on the situation of the refugees should be entrusted to the Accountant, as it is highly desirable that the Accountant' ■ hole time and energy should be concentrated on his normal task. With reference to the Staff proposals made by M.Nicolsky, I am inclined to think that, as a result of the concentration of all the accountancy work in the Office, it sho Id be possible for one expert accountant to perform the accountancy work /ith the help of a competent typist-assistant. As,however,the Office accounts have to be submitted for the approval of the League Auditor, it is essential for the Office to have the services of an.Accountant thoroughly conversant with the League's Financial Régulât: Cessai »■ TFJ/D Y 20C. 18060/16983 If no reply has boen received from M. Burnler to our letter of December 22nd., in which he was requested to send immediately certain essential infor nation to enable us to close our accounts for 1930, an urgent telegram should be despatched to him requiring that information before the aeetinn of the Governing Body on March 10th. I should be glad if you would prepare a Memorandum for submission either to the Menaping Committee or to the Finance Committee, which will almost certainly meet after the Governing Body meet­ ing, seetlng forth the situation of the Syrian Ac­ counts end emphasising particular!) the moderate and partial success which has attended our many efforts to secure satisfactory Statements of Account and in­ formation from M. Burnier. I am personally unwilling to accept responsibility for the continurtion of this state of affairs after the Office co;nes into operation) and the appropriate Committee of the Office should be eSsr* firçr,. plnced in possession of all the tacts, in order that it may be in a position to take a uecision in regaru to the work in Syria " en pleine connaissance de cause." In your memorandum appropriate reference should be made to the feet that we have not received title deeds 01 certifies copies of the title deeds in respect o' many of the properties held in Syria; end copivs of t.;e contracts entered into with the refugees should be submitted for tiio consideration of the Com- 47 ULk 20B. 17265/17126 M gQhSSlt Hue. liaystre's note of the 7th. Inst, on this dossier shows that a certain emount of misapprehension still exists concerning the responsibility of Headquarters in regard to the supervision of the various accounts for advances made to refugees in Frrnce. I quite agree that it is M. Peon's primary duty to ensure that all possible steps are taken to securÿihe reimbursement of advances made; but, as I have pointed out on many occasions, the ultime te responsibility for such supervision must necessarily rest with Headquarters. If, therefçre, as in the case of the refugee GALAGAM, no reimbursement hasf been effected for a whole year, it seems to me the ob­ vious duty of Headquarters to call ià. Paon1 s a t ­ tention to the fact, as it is evident that either he or one of his local assistants has overlooned tiic matter. The practice suggested by Mme. Uaystre in the concluding paragraph of her memorandum could, in general, be followed, and a letter sent to M.