Online College and University Degree Guide
| The League of Nations was to play a crucial role in Palestine after the
League of Nations was created after World War One. The League of Nations was
dominated by Britain and French in its first few years as they were the only
world powers in the League that had the necessary clout to enforce its authority
– though after the casualties both nations experienced in World War One, this
apparent authority was debatable. America had not joined the League and Germany
and Russia were forbidden from doing so when the League was created.
The League of Nations handed Palestine to Great Britain to govern as a League
mandate. Therefore, it was Britain that ‘picked up’ the problems that this
mandate was to create. Faced the with the apparent contradictions of the McMahon
Agreement and the Balfour
Declaration, the British inherited an area that both
Palestinians and Jews believed to be theirs after what appeared to be bona fide
promises to both parties from Great Britain.
Article 22 from the Covenant of the League of Nations was clear as to what
would happen to Palestine as a mandated territory to Great Britain.
ARTICLE 22 OF THE COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
1. 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
civilization and that securities for the performance of this trust should be
embodied in this Covenant.
2. 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.
3. 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 condition and other similar circumstances.
4. Certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish Empire have reached a
stage of development where their existence as independent nations can be
provisionally recognized 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.
5. 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.
6. 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 civilization, 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.
7. In every case of mandate, the Mandatory shall render to the Council an annual
report in reference to the territory committed to its charge.
8. 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.
9. 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.
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