APPENDIX
497
the important elements of its success: (1) The character of the Per-
manent Mandates Commission is of the first importance. The
desirability of keeping it a non-political organization composed of
members with the necessary technical qualifications would seem
to be clear. (2) The value of a complete understanding between
the mandatory Powers and the Permanent Mandates Commission
could hardly be overestimated. The way in which this understand-
ing has been strengthened by the intimate contact which has re-
cently been brought about between high officials directly responsi-
ble for the administration of the mandated territories and the
Mandates Commission has already been noted. (8) The impor-
tance of world public opinion can hardly be exaggerated. The
reports of the Commission and the detailed Minutes of its meetings
are available to the public. The Commission, through its Secre-
tariat at Geneva, is informed of the more important publications
dealing with Mandates, including parliamentary debates, which may
appear in different countries. (4) Many of the problems with
which the Mandates Commission deals are not limited to the man-
dated territories. The discussion which took place at the session
of the Commission in June, 1925, concerning the causes of the ap-
parent depopulation of Central Africa, and in consequence, the
enormous importance of the labor problems in these districts if one
looks to the future, is illustrative of how eminent colonial experts
gathered together in an international group may be able to analyze
problems and suggest lines of action which will be of the greatest
assistance in the administration of colonial areas in all parts of the
world. More than this, the intimate working together of these
experts from the different countries must inevitably serve as a
stimulating example of the extent to which international cotpera-
tion may be brought about without danger of political complica-
tions between rival Powers. (5) Lord Balfour at one of the early
Assemblies expressed the view that the administration of man-
dated territories was one of the greatest experiments made by
the Covenant.! The creation of the League of Nations has made it
possible. Progress in its developments depends in the last resort
upon the seriousness with which the fifty-five Members of the
League take their responsibilities, and thus the success of this great
experiment will be determined very largely by the strength of the
whole movement for international coiperation which we call the
League of Nations.
t League of Nations: Records of the Assembly, Plenary Mectings, 1920, p. 719.
