International > Russian, Armenian, Assyrian, Assyro-Chaldean and Turkish refugees

/ZA', JZ/J
[Distributed to the Council,
the Members of the League,
and the Delegates at the Assembly.]
Official No. A. 28. 1930. XIII.
[Ref. G.A.C. 15. 1930.]
Geneva, August 30th, 1930.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
RUSSIAN, ARMENIAN, ASSYRIAN,
ASSYRO-CHALDEAN AND TURKISH REFUGEES.
REPORT BY THE SECRETARY=GENERAL
ON THE FUTURE ORGANISATION OF REFUGEE WORK.
[Translation.]
INTRODUCTION.
The Assembly’s Decision.
In the course of the tenth ordinary session of the Assembly, the Sixth Committee again dealt
with the question of Russian, Armenian, Assyrian, Assyro-Chaldean and Turkish refugees. The
Committee considered it necessary to continue international work for these refugees for a certain
time. It clearly expressed the opinion, however, that the refugees’ organisation should be wound
up as soon as possible, the maximum period contemplated being ten years.
The Sixth Committee then considered what form of administration would lead most surely
to this result. The points which chiefly engaged its attention were:
(1) To find a means of winding up the work in the most practical and rapid manner,
with due regard to the interests of the refugees;
(2) To relieve Dr. Nansen to some extent of the enormous burden placed upon him.
The Committee considered two solutions which had been submitted to it. The first emanated
from the Advisory Commission for Refugees, and provided for the incorporation of the Refugees
Service in the Secretariat as a temporary department. The other, which was preferred by the
Supervisory Commission, involved the creation of an independent autonomous organisation.
The Fourth Committee, on being consulted, considered that both solutions raised
administrative and financial questions, most of which called for exhaustive enquiries that could
not be undertaken and completed during the Assembly, and it chose a provisional solution.
As a result of its proposal, which was adopted by the Assembly, the Central Service for
Refugees was placed for a period of one year, and as an experiment, under the administrative
authority of the Secretary-General, who was requested to report to the next Assembly on the
results of the experience thus obtained and to make proposals for the administration of the
Refugees Organisation during the whole period in which it is being wound up.
It is in fulfilment of these instructions that the Secretariat has the honour to submit the
present report to the Assembly.
S.d.N. 250 (F.) 150 (A.) 8/30. + 1.575 (F) 1.250 (A) 9/30 Imp. Kundigj
Series of League of Nations Publications
XIII. REFUGEES.
1930. XIII. 2.