THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES, In order to promote international co- operation and to achieve international peace and security by the acceptance of obligations not to resort to war by the prescription of open, just and honourable relations between nations by the firm establishment of the understandings of international law as the actual rule of conduct among Governments, and by the maintenance of justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty obligations in the dealings of organised peoples with one another Agree to this Covenant of the League of Nations.
ARTICLE 22.
To those colonies and territories which as a consequence of the late
war have ceased to be under the sovereignty of the States which formerly
governed them and which are inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand
by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world, there
should be applied the principle that the well-being and development of
such peoples form a sacred trust of civilisation and that securities for
the performance of this trust should be embodied in this Covenant. The
best method of giving practical effect to this principle is that the tutelage
of such peoples should be entrusted to advanced nations who by reason of
their resources, their experience or their geographical position can best
undertake this responsibility, and who are willing to accept it, and that
this tutelage should be exercised by them as Mandatories on behalf of the
League. The character of the mandate must differ according to the stage
of the development of the people, the geographical situation of the territory,
its economic conditions, and other similar circumstances. Certain communities
formerly belonging to the Turkish Empire have reached a stage of development
where their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognised
subject to the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a Mandatory
until such time as they are able to stand alone. The wishes of these communities
must be a principal consideration in the selection of the Mandatory. Other
peoples, especially those of Central Africa, are at such a stage that the
Mandatory must be responsible for the administration of the territory under
conditions which will guarantee freedom of conscience and religion, subject
only to the maintenance of public order and morals, the prohibition of
abuses such as the slave trade, the arms traffic, and the liquor traffic,
and the prevention of the establishment of fortifications or military and
naval bases and of military training of the natives for other than police
purposes and the defence of territory, and will also secure equal opportunities
for the trade and commerce of other Members of the League. There are territories,
such as South-West Africa and certain of the South Pacific Islands, which,
owing to the sparseness of their population, or their small size, or their
remoteness from the centres of civilisation, or their geographical contiguity
to the territory of the Mandatory, and other circumstances, can be best
administered under the laws of the Mandatory as integral portions of its
territory, subject to the safeguards above mentioned in the interests of
the indigenous population. In every case of mandate, the Mandatory shall
render to the Council an annual report in reference to the territory committed
to its charge. The degree of authority, control, or administration to be
exercised by the Mandatory shall, if not previously agreed upon by the
Members of the League, be explicitly defined in each case by the Council.
A permanent Commission shall be constituted to receive and examine the
annual reports of the Mandatories and to advise the Council on all matters
relating to the observance of the mandates.