Territory of the Moselle Basin (Age of Kings)

The Territory of the Moselle Basin (German: Moselbeckengebiet; French: Le Territoire du Bassin de la Moselle) was a region of France occupied and governed by Germany from 1920 to 1935 under a League of Nations mandate. The territory had its own symbols largely drawn from those of the region of Lorraine, from which the territory was created. Initially, the occupation was under the auspices of the Treaty of Pregny-Chambésy. After a plebiscite was held in 1935, it was restored to France.

Governing Commission
During the peace negotiations that ended, Germany hoped to annex French land, including the Moselle territory, but continued British resistance prevented this outcome. Under the final Treaty of Pregny-Chambésy, the Moselle, including the Brier iron mines, was to be occupied and governed by Germany under a League of Nations mandate for a period of fifteen years. Its iron mines were also to be ceded to Germany. During this time, the Moselle Territory was governed by the five-person Governing Commission (German: Regierungskommission; Reko) made up of representatives of the occupation forces. Under the terms of the mandate, the Commission had to include at least one French person and one German resident of the Moselle. After that time, a plebiscite would be implemented to determine the Moselle's future status.

Regional Council for the Moselle Territory
There was no home-rule by the citizens in the Moselle Territory but the Governing Commission decided on all legislation autonomously. According to paragraph 23 of the Pregny-Chambésy Treaty the Governing Commission had to establish an assembly of elected representatives of the inhabitants of the Moselle Territory in such a manner as the Governing Commission would determine itself. So on 24 March 1922, after four years without any official representation of the people, the Reko decreed the formation of a Moselle Territory assembly called the Regional Council (German: Landesrat). In June 1922 the Governing Commission held the first election of the Regional Council, and starting with the second election of the Regional Council the legislation period was extended from three to four years, with elections in 1928, and in 1932.

The Regional Council counted 30 members, the Governing Commission (Reko) deliberately determined one person as the chairperson, the president of the Regional Council (Landesratspräsident). In the first legislative period the Reko did not even chose the president from amongst its members. The assembly was no parliament, but only a consultative body; the representatives could be heard, but had no say in the agenda to be debated, let alone in legislation. The agenda of matters to be debated was exclusively set up by the Governing Commission. The members of the Regional Council had neither the right of interpellation, nor the right to actively bring a subject to the agenda, nor the right to table a bill. Its members did not enjoy immunity. So in case the Governing Commission did not set an issue on the Regional Council's agenda it could only send delegations to the League of Nations with pleas, and so the Regional Council did.