H.—29c

1919. NEW ZEALAND

ISLAND OF NAURU, AGREEMENT BETWEEN HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT IN LONDON, HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, AND HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT OF THE DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND WITH REGARD TO THE.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave. Wheeeas a Mandate for the administration of the Island of Nauru has been conferred by the Allied and Associated Powers upon, the British Empire, and such Mandate will come into operation on the coining into force of the Treaty of Peace with Germany : And whereas it is necessary to make provision for the exercise of the said Mandate and for the mining of the phosphate deposits on the said island : Now, therefore, His Majesty's Government in London, His Majesty's Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, and His Majesty-'.s, Government of the Dominion of New Zealand do hereby agree as follows : — ,■"■" Article 1. The administration of the Island shall be vested in an Administrator. The first Administrator shall be appointed for a term of five years by the Australian Government ; and thereafter the Administrator shall be appointed in such manner as the three Governments decide. The Administrator shall have power to make Ordinances for the peace, order, and good government of the island, subject to the terms of this agreement, and particularly (but so as not to limit the generality of the foregoing provisions of this article) to provide for the education of children on the island, to establish and maintain the necessary Police Force, and to establish and appoint Courts and Magistrates with civil and criminal jurisdiction. Article ti. All the expenses of the administration (including the remuneration of the Administrator and of the Commissioners, so far as they are not met by other revenue, shall be defrayed out of the proceeds of the sales of the phosphates. Article 3. There shall be a Board of Commissioners, comprising three members, one to be appointed by each of the Governments who are parties to this agreement. Article 4. Each of the Commissioners shall hold office during the pleasure of the Government by which he is appointed. Article 5. The three Governments, or, if they are unable to agree, a majority of them, shall fix the remuneration of the Commissioners. Article 6. The title to the phosphate deposits on the Island of Nauru, and to all land, buildings, plant, and equipment on the island used in connection with the working of the deposits, shall be vested in the Commissioners. Article 7. Any right, title, or interest which the Pacific Phosphate Company or any person may have in the said deposits, land, buildings, plant, and equipment (so far as such right, title, and interest is not dealt with by the Treaty of Peace) shall be converted into a claim for compensation at a fair valuation. Article 8. The amount of the said compensation shall be contributed by the Governments of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Dominion of New Zealand in proportions to be mutually agreed upon, or, in the event of their failing to agree within three months of this agreement coming into force, then in the same proportions as the first allotment of. phosphates under Article 14 of this agreement. Any other capital necessary for working-expenses shall be contributed by the three Governments in the same proportions. Article 9. The deposits shall be worked and sold under the direction, management, and control of the Commissioners, subject to the terms of this agreement. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners to dispose of the phosphates for the purpose of the agricultural requirements of the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, so far as those requirements extend.