A.—sd.

Assistance to Indigent Foreigners and the Execution of Maintenance Obligations Abroad. The past history of this matter is briefly summarized in the report of the representative of Chile (Document C. 359, 1937, IV), with which should be read Document C. 341, M. 231, 1937, IV, which furnishes the observations of Governments on the second draft of the Multilateral Convention on Assistance to Indigent Foreigners. The observations did not hold out much hope that a conference, if called early, would be successful, and it will be necessary for the Committee of Experts to consider the replies with a view to reconciling differences. Apart from this aspect, much useful material has recently been collected on the method at present in force in certain countries to assist indigent foreigners, and this material cannot but be helpful to the Committee in its investigations. The Council therefore decided not to call a diplomatic conference, but to give the Secretary-General power to call the experts together at a date not later than early 1938. Under the resolution which embodies this decision the Council " Invites the Committee of Experts to make proposals to the Council as to any measures which appear practicable to improve through international action the precarious situation of indigent foreigners." Intellectual Co-operation. The Rapporteur, the representative of France, brought before the Council his report on the work of the Nineteenth Session of the International Committee on Intellectual Co-operation (Document C. 371, 1937, XII). The Report of the International Committee itself is Document C. 327, M. 220, 1937, XII, and there should be considered with it the Report of the Governing Body of the International Institute (C. 326, M. 219, 1937, XII). As particulars of the work on intellectual co-operation are always submitted to the Assembly and examined by its Sixth Committee, and as the resolution passed by the Council provides for this, it would seem more appropriate to reserve for the report on the Assembly any observations I may desire to make. Permanent Mandates Commission. (a) Report on the Work of its Thirty-first Session. The report of the Rapporteur, who is the representative of Roumania, is Document C. 360, 1937, VI, whilst the report of the Commission itself is Document C. 274, M. 178, 1937, VI. At its Thirtyfirst Session the Permanent Mandates Commission examined the last annual report on the administration of Tanganyika, the Cameroons and Togoland, South West Africa, New Guinea, and Nauru. New Zealand is, of course, interested in Nauru, but as the Rapporteur did not find it necessary to cite any special considerations in relation to the administration of the Territory I will leave the documents to speak for themselves. The report was accepted by the Council, which passed the resolution with which it concludes. (b) Report on the Work of its Thirty-second (Extraordinary) Session. The Rapporteur's report (Document C. 370, 1937, VI), should be read in conjunction with the report of the Permanent Mandates Commission (Document C. 330, M. 222, 1937, VI). The Rapporteur confined himself to the ordinary aspects of administration as revealed in the mandatory powers' last annual report, observing that the Council would no doubt wish to make a separate examination of the problem of the status of Palestine. It was this status of Palestine (with which I shall briefly deal in a moment) that overshadowed the various phases of administration; but there was more than one reference to the decision of the mandatory power to reduce Jewish immigrants into Palestine to 1,000 per month for eight months commencing on the Ist August, 1937. This decision has given rise to criticism, especially in Jewish circles, as contrary to the terms of the mandate ; but, as the Chairman of the Mandates Commission himself remarked in the course of the debate in the Council, it was perfectly clear that the mandatory power should be empowered to take such measures as were necessary, though, of course, so far as these ran counter to the explicit terms of the mandate, they would be only temporary and provisional in character. Indeed, he went into the matter in some detail, but I will not weary you with a long recital, contenting myself with the following quotation from his speech as having some bearing on the greater question of the status of the country:— '' The Permanent Mandates Commission felt called upon to direct attention to this matter because of the great interest attached to the question of immigration. From the time of the Balfour Declaration and the institution of the mandate, the whole of this problem has gravitated around the question of Jewish immigration. Anything connected with the problem of Jewish immigration into Palestine is bound, therefore, to be regarded as of special interest. It is of particular interest as regards the feelings of the people of the country itself. The Arab element in the country is inclined to resist such immigration, whereas the Jewish element naturally hopes that the immigration may become as intense as possible." The Council adopted the Rapporteur's report, and passed the resolution with which it concludes. I now turn to the status of the country. Immediately after the Rapporteur's report had been accepted, Mr. Eden, the representative of the United Kingdom, addressed the Council. Although for a complete understanding of the circumstances which led to the present impasse in Palestine familiarity with the report of the Royal Commission, known as the Peel Commission, is a necessity, a general conception may be gained from Mr. Eden's speech at the meeting of the Council on the 14th September. The trouble is the result of a conflict between Arab and Jewish political aspirations. The mandate, which is derived not merely from the Covenant but also from the Balfour Declaration regarding the establishment of a national home for the Jews in Palestine (a declaration which had the approval of the President of the United States of America and also of the Governments of France and Italy), has, in the opinion of some authorities, proved unworkable. Jews and Arabs have not settled

3