[Communicated to the Council and the Members of the League].
C. 524. M. 363. 1937. X.
Geneva, October 22nd, 1937.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
TECHNICAL COLLABORATION WITH CHINA
SCHEME OF ANTI-EPIDEMIC ACTION
Report by the Supervisory Commission
1. In pursuance of the Assembly's decision of October 5th, 1937, approving the Fourth Committee's report (document A.76(a).1937), and of the Council's resolution of the same date, the Supervisory Commission met at Paris on October 19th and 20th to examine the scheme of anti-epidemic action drawn up by the special Sub-Committee of the Health Committee.
The Sub-Committee's report is appended.
2. The Commission's first step was to clear up certain points on which full explanations were furnished by Dr. Parisot, Chairman of the Sub-Committee.
3. In accordance with Chapter III of its previous report, dated October 4th (document A.76(a).1937), the Supervisory Commission examined the proposals submitted by the Sub- Committee, both from the budgetary and administrative points of view, and took the necessary steps to ensure that the execution of the scheme should not entail, directly or indirectly, expenditure in excess of the sum of two millions allocated by the Assembly. 1
The entire responsibility for the work will be assumed by the Chinese Government. The League's part will therefore be to place at that Government's disposal, for a period of one year, groups of experts provided with the necessary medical and technical equipment. The general principle which the Commission felt impelled to adopt will involve the following consequences, which may be conveniently enumerated as follows:
(a) Personnel. The experts to be sent by the League of Nations to China will not form a distinct international body operating in a particular country. They will be technicians grouped in a given area and placed at the Chinese Government's disposal under the same conditions as the advisers which the League has sent out to assist that Government on former occasions.
The experts will be invited to accept a contract of a stated type, providing among other things for insurance, so that acceptance of such contracts will entirely relieve the League of any financial responsibility in respect of those concerned.
2
All arrangements with regard to the appointment of experts, the drafting of their contracts and the taking-out of insurance policies will be made by the Secretary-General of the League of Nations.
The credits necessary for the payment of the experts' salaries for the year during which the scheme is to remain in force will be earmarked at the time of their appointment: no shortage is therefore to be feared in regard to this chapter of the budget.
It
(b) Medical and Technical Equipment (travelling laboratories, motor-cars, medicines and vaccines, etc.). On the termination of the scheme, the material and equipment placed at the experts' disposal will become the absolute property of the Chinese Government. is understood that the handing-over to the Chinese authorities of the material provided for in the scheme does not imply direct or indirect responsibility on the part of the League of Nations for the replacement of such material in the event of its proving insufficient or being exhausted before the end of the year during which the scheme is in operation.
As regards the purchase and despatch of the material, for which the Secretariat is not equipped, the Commission recommends that is should as far as possible be centralised, and that in any case the work should be placed in the hands of an experienced person, every precaution being taken to ensure that the purchases are made under the best possible conditions.
1 The contribution of the Chinese Government towards the 1937 budget was paid at the beginning of November and transferred to a special account.
2 Whenever it may be thought advisable to consult the Governments of individual experts, this will be done before the appointment is made.
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S.d.N. 650 (F.) 400 (A.) 11/37. Imp. Granchamp, Annemasse.
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