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Transfer of Certain Functions, Activities and Assets of the League of Nations

A/RES/24(I)View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, published in 1946.

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

2 entities
Entity(Sub-)ProgrammeTitleTotal mandates citedExpenditure
Subprogramme 6Custody, registration and publication of treaties11—
Programme 25Management and support services24—

Historical expenditure covers the complete programme or subprogramme, not this mandate. For an overview of all UN entities and programmes, see UN entities and programmes.

What subjects does this mandate have?

9 subjects
ArchivesCapital AssetsEstablishmentLibrariesMembersNegotiationTerms of ReferenceTreaty-Making PowerTreaty-Monitoring Bodies

What’s in this document?

5 operative paragraphs
1
The General Assembly reserves the right to decide, after due examination, not to assume any particular function or power, and to determine which organ of the United Nations or which specialized agency brought into relationship with the United Nations should cxercise cach particular function or power assumed.
2
T he General Assembly records tha t those Member-s of the United Nation.s which are parties to the instruments referred to above assent by this resolution to the steps contemplated below and express their resolve to use their good offices to secure the co-operation of the other parties to the instruments so far as this may be necessary.
3
The General Assembly declares that the United Nations is willing in principie, and subject to the provision.s of this resolution and of the Charter of the United Nation.s, to assume the exercise of certain functions and power-s previously entrusted to the League of Nations, and adopts the following decisions, set forth in A, B, and C below.

A.

Functions pertaining to a Secretariat Under certain of the instruments referred to at the beginning of this resolution, the League of Nations has, for the general convenience of the parties, undertaken to act as custodian of the original signed texts of the instruments, and to perform certain functions, pertaining to a secretariat, which do not affect the operation of the instruments and do not relate to the substantive rights and obligations of the parties. These functions include: The receipt of additional signatures and of instruments of ratification, accession and denunciation; receipt of notice of extension of the instruments to colonies or possessions of a party orto protectorates or territories for which it holds a manda te; notificaúon of such acts to other parties and other interested States; the issue of certified copie-s; and the circulation of information or documents which the partie-s have undertaken to communicate to each other. Any interruption in the performance of the-se functions would be contrary to the interests of all the parties. It would be convenient for the United Nations to have the custody of those instruments which are connccted with activities of the
XIV. RF.SOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS COMMin"EE League of Natioru and which the United Nations is likely to continue.

Ther-efore:

The General Ássembly declares that the United Nations is willing to accept the custody of the instruments and to charge the Secretariat of the United Nations with the task of performing for the parties the functions, pertaining to a secretariat, fon:nerly entrusted to the League of Natioru.

B.

Functions and Powers o/ a TechnicoJ and N on-PoliticoJ Character Among the instruments referred to at the beginning of this resolution are sorne of a technical and non-political character which contain provisioru, relating to the substance of the instruments, whoee due execution is dependent on the exercisc, by the League of Nations or particular organs of the League, of functions or powers conferred hy the instruments. Certain of these instruments are intimately connected with activities which the United Nations will or may continue.
lt is necessary, however, to examine carefully which of the organs of the United Nations or which of the specialized agencies brought into relationship with the U nited Nations should, in the future, exercise the functions and powers in question, in so far as they are maintained.
Therefore:
The General Assembly is willing, subject to these reservations, to take the necessary measures to ensure the continued exercise of these functions and powers, and refers the matter to the Economic and Social Council. C.
Functions and Power-s under Treaties, lnternational Conventions, Agreements and Other lnstruments Having a Political Character The General Assembly will itself examine, or will submit to the appropriate organ of the United Nations, any request from the parties that the United Nations should assume the exercise of functions or power-s entrusted to the League of Nations by treaties, intemational conventions, agreements and other instruments having a political character.

II

\. The General Assembly requests the Economic and Social Council to survey the functions and activities of a non-política! character which have hitherto been perfon:ned by the League of Nations in order to determine which of them should, with such modifications as are desirable, be assumed by organs of the United Nations or be entrusted to specialized agencies which have been brought int6 relationship with the United Natioru. Pending the adoption of the measures decided upon as the result of this examination, the Council should, on or before the dissolution of the League, assume and continue provisionally the work hitherto done by the following League dep,irtments: the Economic, Financia! and Transit Department, particularly the research and statistical work; the Health Section, particularly the epidemiological service; the Opium Section and the secretariats of the Pen:nanent Central Opium Board and Superviso!) Body.
2
The General Assembly requests the Secretary-General to make provision for taking over and maintaining in operation the Library and Archives and for completing the League of Nations treaty series.
3
The General Assembly considers that it would also be desirable for the Secretary-General to engage for the work referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 above, on appropriate terms, such members of the experienced personnel by whom it is at present being performed as the Secretary-General may select.

III

The General Assembly, having considered the report of the Committee set up by the Preparatory Commission to discuss and establish with the Supervisory Commission of the League of Nations a common plan for the transfrr of the assets of the League of Nations, approves of both the report of the Committee set up by the Preparatory Commission and of the common plan submitted by it (document A/18 and Corr. 1, Add. 1 and 2.)

IV

The General Assembly approves of the setting up of a small negotiating committee to assist the Secretary-General in negotiating further agreements in connection with the transfer of certain assets in Geneva, and in connection with the premises in the Peace Palace in The Hague. This committee shall consist of one representative designated by the delegations, if they so desire, of each of the same eight Mernbers as previously constituted the Committee created by the Preparatory Comrnission: Chile, China, France, Poland, Union of South Africa, Union of Soviet Socialist Repub- !ics, United Kingdorn and UnitPd Statt'S of Arner- 1ca. Tw/(nty-nínth plenary meeting, 12 Frbruary 1946.
FUNCTIONS AND POWERS BELONGING TO THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNDEII. INTERNATIONAL AoREEMENTS
NoN-POLITICAL FuNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE MEN· TIONED IN SECTION I
APPOINTMENT OF A NreoTIATING CoMMITTEE
TRANSFER OF THE AssETS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Table of contents

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

2 entities
Entity(Sub-)ProgrammeTitleTotal mandates citedExpenditure
Subprogramme 6Custody, registration and publication of treaties11
Programme 25Management and support services24

Historical expenditure covers the complete programme or subprogramme, not this mandate. For an overview of all UN entities and programmes, see UN entities and programmes.