| Show I f 1 t Complete Text of Covenant Y of x For Worlds World's Nations' Nations League I The Tho covenant for the proposed society so so- r clot clot- of or nations as read by President Wilson In Paris February ry 14 Is a as follows tot fol lows lovs 9 9 Preamble In Preamble In order to promote International cooperation and to secure secure se so- cure International peace and security c by the tho acceptance of obligations not notto notto notto to resort to war by the prescription of open Just and honorable relations between nations by the firm establishment establishment of the understanding of t In International In- In law as tho the actual rule of conduct among governments and by bythe bythe the maintenance of justice and a at t i. i scrupulous respect for all aU treaty obligations obligations in n the dealings of organized peoples with one another the powers signatory to this covenant adopt this constitution of the league of nations Article I The action of the high contracting parties under tho the terms of this covenant shall be effected 4 through ro gh the Instrumentality of a am m meeting cf a body of delegates representing 1 the high contracting parties of or meetings at more frequent intervals Intervals intervals inter Inter- vals of ot an executive council and a permanent international secretariat to be established at the seat of the league Article II Meetings of the body of delegates shall be held at stated Intervals In Intervals Intervals In- In and from time to time as occasion occasion oc oc- oc- oc casion slon may require for the purpose of dealing with matters In the sphere of action of the league Meetings of the bodies of delegates shall be held at the scat seat of the league or at such other place as may be found convenient convenient conven conven- lent and shall consist of ot representatives i thes Ues the of-the of the high contracting parties who shall have one vote but may if have not more ore than three tives thes Executive Council Counell Is Provided For Article III The executive council shall consist of representatives of ot the United States of America th the British empire France Italy and Japan to together together together to- to gether with representatives of four other states members of the league The selection of af these four stat states S shall be made by the body of delegates delegates delegates dele dele- gates on such principles and In such such manner as they think fit Pending the appointment of these representatives the of other states representatives representatives- bl blank k left for names shall be he members of the executive executive executive exec exec- council Meetings of ot the council shall be beheld beheld beheld held from time to time as occasion v ma may r s and at least leut once a year year at at whatever place ma may be de decided de- de on or failing any such decision at the seat seated of ot the the league league and any matter within the sphere of action of the league or affecting the peat the of-the world may be dealt with at the JT such uch meetings Invitations s shall te to sent to any power to attend a a. meeting of tre council at which matters directly affecting affecting af at- Its interests Interest a- a are to be II ir cussed and nd no decision taken at any meeting will be binding on such sarh power power unless so o Invited Article IV All AU matters matte of procedure ure at meetings of he body of delegates delegates dele delf g gates tes or Dr the executive council including IncludIng including ing the appointment of commit committees ices to investigate particular mattera maH s abbe T be-T regulated by the body o ol of delegates tes or th the executive council may tind-may may be decided by a majority of or N the states represented at the meet meat ne t. t ing log President to Summon the Initial Meeting The first meeting of the body of delegates and of the executive council coun- coun council counell cil ell shall be summoned by the president dent of the United States of America Article V. V The permanent secretariat secretariat secre secre- of the tho league shall be established established established at blank which shall constitute con conS the seat of the league Tho Tho secretariat shall comprise such secretaries secretaries secre secre- and staff as ns may be required under the general direction and control control control con con- of a secretary-general secretary of the league who shall be chosen by the executive council the secretariat shall be appointed by the secretary- secretary general subject to confirmation by the executive council t I V i rhe he he secretary-general secretary shall act In jj I that capacity at all meetings of the body of delegates or of the executive council The expenses of the secretariat secretarial shall be borne by the states members of oC the league In accordance WIth apportionment ap ap- ap- ap of the tho expenses of the International bureau of the Universal Postal Union Article VI Representative of the high contracting parties and of those of the league when engaged in the business of the league shall enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities immunities im Im- and the tho buildings occupied by the league or Its officials or by representatives attending the tho meetIngs meetIngs meetings meet- meet Ings shall enjoy th the benefits of extraterritoriality extra extra- territoriality Article VII Admission to the league of states not signatories to the covenant and not named In fn the protocol protocol protocol pro pro- tocol hereto as stated to be bo invited to adhere to to the covenant requires require the assent of not lens leas than two- two thirds of the states represented in the body of delegates and shall shaH be limited limited limited limi limi- ted to fully self governing countries Including dominions and colonies Must Give Cite Proof of ot Sincere Purposes No state shall be admitted to the league leng e unless it it-is it is able to give effective tive tivo guarantees of ot Us Its sincere intentions intentions Intentions to observe its international obligations obligations ob ob- and unless it shall conform to each principle as my may be prescribed ed by the league in regard to its Us naval naval naval nav nav- al and military forces and armaments arma arma- ments me Article VIII The high contractIng contract- contract i lug Ing parties recognize the tho principle that that the maintenance of peace will wUl require the reduction of of national armaments to the lowest point consistent consistent consistent con con- with national safety and the enforcement by common Action of In International International International In- In obligation having special regard to the geographical situation and circumstances of each state and the tho executive council shall shan formulate plans for effecting such reduction The executive council shall also determine determine determine de de- de- de termine for the consideration and action action action ac ac- tion of the several governments what military equipment and armament armament armament arma arma- ment is fair and reasonable in proportion proportion proportion pro pro- portion to the scale of at forces laid down in the program of disarmament and these limits when adopted shall not be exceeded without the permission permission sion sign of the executive council The high contracting parties agree that the manufacture by provincial provincial pro pro- enterprise of munitions and rind implements of oJ war var is open to grave objections and direct the executive council to to advise how the evil effects attendant upon such Buch manufacture cau can be prevented due regard being paid to the necessities of those countries countries countries coun coun- tries which are n not t able to manufacture ture for themselves the munitions and implements of war necessary for their safety Exchange change of ot Information Assured The high contracting parties un un- in no way to conceal from each other the c conditions of such of their industries as are capable of be being being be- be ing jug adapted to war purposes or the scale of their armaments and nd agree that there shall shan be full and frank In Interchange Interchange Interchange In- In e of Information as to their military and naval questions general general- ly Jy- Article X Th The high contracting parties shall undertake t to respect and p preserve preserve as against external the territorial Integrity and existing political Independence of all aU states members of the league In Incase Incase Incase case of any such aggression slon the executive executive executive ex ex- council shall advise upon means by which the obligation shalbe shall be fulfilled Article XI Any war or threat of war whether Immediately affecting any of the high contracting parties or not Is her hereby by declared a matter of concern to the league and the high contracting parties reserve the right to take any action that may be deemed deem deem- ed wise and effective to safeguard the peace of nations It Is hereby also declared and agreed to be the friendly right of each of the t e high contracting parties to draw the attention of the body of delegates or of the ex executive council to any circumstances affecting International international international inter Inter- national course which threatens to disturb International peace or the good understanding between nations upon upon which peace depends Arbitration to to Precede Any Resort to toVar toWar toWar War Var Article XII The high contracting parties agree that should disputes arise between them which cannot be adjusted by the ordinary processes of diplomacy they will wUl In no case resort to war without previously submitting the questions and matters Involved either to arbitration or to Inquiry by bythe bythe bythe the council and until three months after the award by the or recommendations by the executive council and that they will not even ven then re resort ort to war as against a member of the league leagle which complies complies complies com com- plies with the award of the arbitrators arbitrators arbitrators tors or the recommendation of the executive council In any case under this article the theaward theaward theaward award of at the arbitrators shall be made with a reasonable time and the recommendation of the executive council shall be bo made mate within six months months after the submission of the disputes Article XIII The high contractIng contracting contracting contract contract- ing parties agree that whenever any dispute or differences shall arise between between be be- tween them which they recognize to tobe tobe tobe be suitable for submission to arbitration arbitration arbitration tion and which cannot be satisfactorily rily settled by by diplomacy they will submit the whole matter to arbitration tion For this purpose the court of arbitration to which the case la is re re- shall be the court coun agreed on onby onby onby by the the parties or or- stipulated in any convention existing between them The high contracting partita parties a agree ee that they will wUl carry out in full fun good faith any a award ard that may be bo ren ret dered derro In ont event of any failure to I carry out the award the executive I council shall propose steps can boat bost be bo taken to give effect thereto Article XIV XI The Tho executive connell council council coun coun- cil ell shall formulate plans plana for the es establishment establishment establishment es- es of a permanent court of international Justice and this court shall when established be competent competent compe compe- tent lent to hear henr and determine any matter matter matter mat mat- ter which the parties 8 recognize as subject for submission to it for tor arbitration arbitration arbi arbi- under the foregoing article Provisions for lor Adjusting International al Disputes tes Article XV If It there should arise between bet states members of the league an any dispute likely to lead to rupture which Is not submitted to arbitration arbitration arbitration ar ar- as above the high contractIng contracting contracting contract contract- ing parties agree that they will refer the matter to the exe executive council either party to the dispute may give notice of the existence of the dispute to the secretary-general secretary who will wUl make all necessary arrangements for fora a full ruu Investigation and consideration tion thereof For this purpose the parties agree to communicate to the secretary-general secretary as promptly as pos- pos possible possible sible sible statements of their case with all the relevant papers and the executive executive exec exec- council may forthwith direct the the publication ther thereof of Where the efforts ot bt the council lead lend to the settlement of Cf the dispute a statement shall be published Indicating Indicating indicating indi Indi- cating the nature of the tho dispute and the terms of settlement together with such explanations as may be ap ap- ap- ap If the dispute has not been settled a report by the council shall be published r retting forth with all aU necessary facts and explanations explanations explanations the recommendations which the council think thin 1 just end p opeT oper for foe the settlement of or the dispute If the report report report re re- port Is unanimously agreed to by llY the Frs of the ou other thin Inn the parties to th the dt the tte teh i-teh contracting parties a a ree that th thy y will not go to war with any party which complies with tin Uti recommendations recommendations recommendations and that f if any party shall refuse so to comply the council shall propos's measures necessary ery to give effect to the If U no surl sunk report can be made It shall be the duty of at tho the m majority a and d the privilege of the minority to tCo issue baue statements Indicating what whitt that th y believe be be- lieve C to be the facts anti containing the reason which the the thel consider to be just and proper Executive o Council Given Wide Powers pon-ora The executive council may In to any case under this article refer reter the dispute dispute dis die to the body of delegates The dispute shall be b so referred at the re request request request re- re quest of either party to the dispute provided that such request must b be made within fourteen days dars after the submission of the dispute Ina IIa In II- a case referred to the body of delegates the provisions of or this article and of article article ar ar- Ucle XII relating to action and powers pow pow- powers ers of the body of delegates Article XVI Should any of the high contracting parties break or disregard dis dL regard its covenants under XII It shall thereby IpSo facto be declared declared declared de de- to have committed an act of war war as against all the other members of the league which hereby undertakes undertakes undertakes under under- takes Immediately to subject it to severance of all trade or financial relations relations relations re re- lations the prohibition of all aU intercourse intercourse Intercourse inter Inter- course between their nationals and the nationals of the state and the prevention of all financIal financial financial finan finan- cial commercial or personal Intercourse Intercourse intercourse Inter Inter- course between the nationals of the covenant breaking state and the na- na of any other state whether a member of the league or not It shall be the duty of the executive executive executive tive council In such cases to recommend recommend recommend mend what effective military or naval naval naval nav nav- al al forces the tho members of the league shall severally contribute to the armed armed armed arm arm- ed forces to be used to protect the covenants of ot the league The high contracting parties agree further that they will mutually mutual mutual- ly support one another in the financial financial financial finan finan- cial and economic measures which |
