How did League of Nations Secretariat officials work independently of their home governments?

The first secretary-general of the League of Nations, Sir Eric James Drummond, established the Secretariat as a strictly international institution. From the organization's inception, it was a fundamental understanding that all officials were to act independently of their own national authorities.1

To achieve this, the Secretariat fostered a strong corporate spirit, encouraging officials from many different countries to work together with zeal and cordiality. This approach successfully created an international civil service where staff members were expected to prioritize their duties to the League over their national allegiances. While this ideal was not always perfectly realized, it governed the overall attitude of the institution, and the Secretariat was rarely accused of partiality on national grounds. By building this sense of international loyalty, the League demonstrated that a professional staff could effectively function as a cohesive, independent body.12