The Secrets of an Aborted Decolonisation: The Declassified British Secret Files on the Southern Cameroons

Chapter 2. International Colonialism and the Emergence of the Southern Cameroons Polity

29 Chapter Two International Colonialism and the Emergence of the Southern Cameroons Polity The League of Nations Covenant of the League of Nations: Article 22 (1) To those colonies and territories which as a consequence of the last 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. Mandate Agreement for the British Cameroons: 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 overseas possessions, including therein the Cameroons; and Whereas the Principal Allied and Associated Powers agreed that the Governments of France and Great Britain should make a joint recommendation to the League of Nations … Whereas the Governments of France and Great Britain have made a joint recommendation to the Council of the League of Nations that a mandate to administer in accordance with Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations that part of the Cameroons lying to the west of the line agreed upon in the Declaration of July 10th, 1919, referred to in Article 1, should be conferred upon His Britannic Majesty; and Whereas the Governments of France and Great Britain have proposed that the mandate should be formulated in the following terms; and 30 The Secrets of an Aborted Decolonisation Whereas His Britannic Majesty 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; Confirming the said mandate, defines its terms as follows: Article 1 The territory for which a mandate is conferred upon His Britannic Majesty comprises that part of the Cameroons which lies to the west of the line laid down in the Declaration signed on July 10th, 1919, of which a copy is annexed hereto. This line may, however, be slightly modified by mutual agreement between His Britannic Majesty’s Government and the Government of the French Republic where an examination of the localities shows that it is undesirable, either in the interests of the inhabitants or by reason of any inaccuracies in the map, Moisel 1:300,000, annexed to the Declaration, to adhere strictly to the line laid down therein. The delimitation on the spot of this line shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the said Declaration. The final report of the Mixed Commission shall give the exact description of the boundary line as traced on the spot; maps signed by the Commissioners shall be annexed to the report. This report with its annexes shall be drawn up in triplicate: one of these shall be deposited in the archives of the League of Nations, one shall be kept by His Britannic Majesty’s Government, and one by the Government of the French Republic. [Articles 2—10 omitted] Article 11 The consent of the Council of the League of Nations is required for any modification of the terms of this mandate. Article 12 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 and 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 instrument shall be deposited in original in the archives of the League of Nations. Certified copies shall be forwarded by the SecretaryGeneral of the League of Nations to all Members of the League. 31 Chapter Two: International Colonialism and the Emergence of the Southern Cameroons Polity Done at London, the twentieth day of July one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two. Certified true copy. For the Secretary-General, League of Nations, RAPPARD, Director of the Mandates Section. *** Note This British Mandate for the Cameroons is reproduced only in part. For source of this mandate agreement, see Cmd. 1794...