ercised 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.

[Sidenote: Provisional recognition of certain communities.]

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 power 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
power.

[Sidenote: Central Africa peoples.]

Other peoples, especially those of Central Africa, are at such a stage
that the mandatory must be responsible for the administration of the
territory, subject to conditions which will guarantee freedom of
conscience or 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 defense of
territory, and will also secure equal opportunities for the trade and
commerce of other members of the League.

[Sidenote: The South Pacific Isles.]

There are territories, such as Southwest Africa and certain of the South
Pacific Isles, which, owing to the sparseness of the population, or
their small size, or their remoteness from the centers of civilization,
or their geographical contiguity to the mandatory State and other
circumstances, can be best administered under the laws of the mandatory
States as integral portions thereof, subject to the safeguards above
mentioned in the interests of the indigenous population.

[Sidenote: Mandatory's annual report.]

In every case of mandate, the mandatory State shall render to the League
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 State, shall, if not previously agreed upon by the high
contracting parties in each case, be explicitly defined by the Executive
Council in a special act or charter.

[Sidenote: The mandatory commission.]

The high