Mandate for Nauru, conferred upon His Britannic Majesty;15
Mandate for German Samoa, conferred upon His Britannic Majesty to
be exercised on his behalf by the Government of the Dominion of
New Zealand;15
Mandate for the German Possessions in the Pacific Ocean situated
South of the Equator, other than German Samoa and Nauru,
conferred upon His Britannic Majesty to be exercised on his
behalf by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia;
Mandate for German South-West Africa, conferred upon His
Britannic Majesty to be exercised on his behalf by the
Government of the Union of South Africa;15
Mandate for the German Possessions in the Pacific Ocean lying
north of the Equator, conferred upon His Majesty the Emperor of
Japan,15
as defined by the Council of the League of Nations at
its meeting on December 17th, 1920.
In execution of the final provisions of the said Mandates, such certified
copies are being forwarded to all Powers Signatories of the Treaty of
Peace with Germany.
At the meeting of the Council at which the terms of these Mandates were
defined, it was understood that the English text only was to be
considered authentic.
[Enclosure]
Mandate for the German Possessions in the
Pacific Ocean Situated South of the Equator, Other Than German
Samoa and Nauru
The Council of the League of Nations:
Whereas, by Article 119 of the Treaty of
Peace with Germany signed at Versailles on June 28th, 1919, Germany
renounced in favour of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers
all her rights over her oversea possessions, including therein
German New Guinea and the groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean
lying south of the equator other than German Samoa and Nauru;
and
[Page 119]
Whereas the Principal Allied and Associated
Powers agreed that in accordance with Article 22, Part I (Covenant
of the League of Nations) of the said Treaty, a mandate should be
conferred upon His Britannic Majesty to be exercised on his behalf
by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, to administer
New Guinea and the said islands, and have proposed that the Mandate
should be formulated in the following terms; and
Whereas His Britannic Majesty, for and on
behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, has
agreed to accept the Mandate in respect of the said territory and
has undertaken to exercise it on behalf of the League of Nations in
accordance with the following provisions; and
Whereas, by the afore-mentioned Article 22,
paragraph 8, it is provided that the degree of authority, control or
administration to be exercised by the Mandatory not having been
previously agreed upon by the Members of the League, shall be
explicitly defined by the Council of the League of Nations;
Confirming the said Mandate, defines its terms as follows:—
Article 1
The territory over which a Mandate is conferred upon His Britannic
Majesty for and on behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth of
Australia (hereinafter called the Mandatory) comprises the former
German colony of New Guinea and the former German islands situated
in the Pacific Ocean and lying south of the equator, other than the
islands of the Samoan group and the island of Nauru.
Article 2
The Mandatory shall have full power of administration and legislation
over the territory subject to the present Mandate as an integral
portion of the Commonwealth of Australia, and may apply the laws of
the Commonwealth of Australia to the territory, subject to such
local modifications as circumstances may require.
The Mandatory shall promote to the utmost the material and moral
well-being and the social progress of the inhabitants of the
territory subject to the present mandate.
Article 3
The Mandatory shall see that the slave trade is prohibited, and that
no forced labour is permitted, except for essential public works and
services, and then only for adequate remuneration.
[Page 120]
The Mandatory shall also see that the traffic in arms and ammunition
is controlled in accordance with principles analogous to those laid
down in the convention relating to the control of the arms traffic,
signed on September 10th, 1919, or in any convention amending the
same.
The supply of intoxicating spirits and beverages to the natives shall
be prohibited.
Article 4
The military training of the natives, otherwise than for purposes of
internal police and the local defence of the territory, shall be
prohibited. Furthermore, no military or naval bases shall be
established or fortifications erected in the territory.
Article 5
Subject to the provisions of any local law for the maintenance of
public order and public morals, the Mandatory shall ensure in the
territory freedom of conscience and the free exercise of all forms
of worship, and shall allow all missionaries, nationals of any State
Member of the League of Nations, to enter into, travel and reside in
the territory for the purpose of prosecuting their calling.
Article 6
The mandatory shall make to the Council of the League of Nations an
annual report to the satisfaction of the Council, containing full
information with regard to the territory, and indicating the
measures taken to carry out the obligations assumed under Articles
2, 3, 4, and 5.
Article 7
The consent of the Council of the League of Nations is required for
any modification of the terms of the present Mandate.
The Mandatory agrees that if any dispute whatever should arise
between the Mandatory and another Member of the League of Nations
relating to the interpretation or the application of the provisions
of the Mandate, such dispute, if it cannot be settled by
negotiation, shall be submitted to the Permanent Court of
International Justice provided for by Article 14 of the Covenant of
the League of Nations.
The present declaration shall be deposited in the archives of the
League of Nations. Certified copies shall be forwarded by the
Secretary-General of the League of Nations to all Powers Signatories
of the Treaty of Peace with Germany.
Made at
Geneva the 17th day of December,
1920.
