(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The present procedure of the League of Nations with regard to the mandated territories is to remain in effect, a resolution adopted by the Council of the League of Nations at its session here today states.
The decision was taken following a report submitted by the representative of Holland concerning the question of the mandated territories and the demand that petitioners representing the local population be given an opportunity to be heard by the Permanent Mandates Commission. The resolution rejecting this proposal was adopted without debate.
The report states that all the mandatory powers are against the Permanent Mandates Commission granting a hearing to petitioners representing the local population. Perhaps, in exceptional cases, petitioners will be granted a hearing, the report states, but this must take place each time with the previous consent of the Council of the League of Nations.
The question of permitting the inhabitants of mandated territories to submit their complaints against the mandatory governments not only through written petitions but also by word of mouth came up in the Council of the League last September. Sir Austin Chamberlain, British Foreign Secretary, and Aristide Briand. French Foreign Minister, describing the effect which such a decision might have on the situation in Syria and Palestine, accused the Permanent Mandates Commission of exceeding its powers. Count Ishii of Japan and M. Vandervelde of Belgium joined the British and French Ministers in insisting that the examination of complaints against the mandatory powers must proceed very cautiously.
An opposite view was held by M. Unden, representative of Sweden, who submitted the report of the Commission to the Council, and M. Van Rees of Holland, vice-chairman of the Permanent Mandates Commission. M. Unden and M. Van Rees replied to the charges of Briand and Chamberlain, declaring that the Mandates Commission was within its right. They quoted the League of Nations Covenant and the text of the various international treaties, showing that the commission was justified in its attitude.
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