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Show ij ons titu tion ot ox JN atioias Every True American Should Read This Contract Carefully; ! " Adopted It Perpetually Binds You and Your Posterity Preamble In o r d r to pro mot Infmattonnl cooperation and to ncurfl International pea' and security by the accept an :e of obligations not to resort to war, by tho prescription of open, Just anJ honorable hon-orable rclaLlona between nation a, by the firm establishment oC the understand-in understand-in rt of International law as the actual rul of conduct among governments iin.i by tJho maintenance of Juntlce and scrupulous r-8pect for all treaty ohll-entl'tna ohll-entl'tna In tho dealings of orrant7.ed p'-oj.Ies with ono another, the powers i(n;ttor to this covenant adopt thl.s p-oiatitutlon of tha league of nations: Th original members of the league of nations hall be those of the aigria-torlfia aigria-torlfia w h ir.h are named In thfl annex 1 3 shall acced without r enervation to ' this covenant. friunh accessions shall b Bffected by a declaration depositeJ with fho fierretarlat within two months of the coining into force of the covo- ' nam. NotUo thereof shall be sent to ft 11 the ritoinbera of the league. ny fully Bflf-rnvemlnr ntate, il rttn 1 n I mi or n lony not nam n 1 ti The nnnrt may bwome a mem-ter mem-ter of tlie It-ng-u If lta ndmla-ftlon ndmla-ftlon la BRrffd to by two-third of the QHivinblT, provided that 1 nix ml I erl ve rt fertlve Knnrnn-iren Knnrnn-iren of ItA ahioere intrntiona , and fehall accept suirh, regulations as i may he prescribed by the league In j regard to jt.i military and naval forces I 1 a rid arrriEi menta. ! Any m- nibor of the league may, after 'two yearn' notice of its intention so to ' do, withdraw from the league, provided , tnat All Its international obligations 1 A-ml all Ha obligation! under the covo- , nam shall have been fulfilled at the l time of Its withdrawal. ARTICLE II The action of the league under this covenant shall be effected through the Instrumentality of an assembly and of a council, wiuti a permanent secretariat. aiitici-k in The assembly shall consist of repre-l repre-l sentatlvc3 of the members of the ; 1 e i; g u e. j The assembly Rhall meet at state J I i ' Intervals, and from time to time as ! occasion may require, at the seat of I the league, or at such other place as I may be decided upon. Thri nnMCinhly may denl nt Urn inretlngH Tilth nny matter within the nphrrc of art ton of 1 he league or affecting the pearc of the world. t nuTtlns of the nMN-mbly each member of the It-nnup nhnll have one Tote, and mny hnvr not more than three representative, j ' ; ARTK LK IV j ; The council shall consist of repre- ! nentattvos of the United ytates of I Am erica, of the British empire, of' j Krance. of Italy, and of Japan, together ; with representatives of four other members of tho league. Tbewo four members of th-e le-acrne 1 nhnll ho aelocted by tbe oNcinbly from time to time in it discretion. ;, Until the appointment of the repre-i-' pcntatives of the four members of the league first selected by the assembly, i representatives of Belgium, Brazil, Spain and Greece shall be members of the council. AVlth the approval of the majority of the Bnwmbly, the council may name additional members of the lenprtie, whose- representative shall nJway b member of the council i the council with like approval may increase the number of member of the IcRRTue to be selected by the anNcmbly for representation on the council. The council shall meet from time to time, as occasion may require, and at least once a year, at the scat of the league, or at such other place as may be decided upon. The ronnril may deal at it meet-ln(E meet-ln(E with any matter within the' sphere of notion of the league or affectlnpT the pence of the world. Any member of the league not represented repre-sented on the council shall be invited :he annual reports of the mandator ind to advise the council on all mat-ters mat-ters relating to the observance of t.ta mandates. ARTICLE XXtn Subject to and In accordance tho provisions of international conven. tlons existing or hereafter to be agreed upon, the members of the league (a) will endeavor to secure and maintain fair and humane conditions of labor for men, women and children both In their own countries and In all court, tries to which their commercial and industrial relations extend, anl for that purpose will establish and maintain tht necessary international organ IzaMonB' (b) undertake to secure Just treatment of tho native inhabitants of territories under their control; (c) will intrust the league with the general supervl. sion over the execution of apreenunti with regard to the traffic In women and children, and the traffic in opium and other dangerous drugs; (d) will Intrust the league with the general supervision of the tralo In arms and ammunition with the countries In which rhe control of this traffic is neceRaary in the common interest; (e) will make provision to secure and maintain free-dom free-dom of communication and of transit and equitable treatment for the commerce com-merce of all members of th leagu. In this connection the special neces-sities neces-sities of the regions devastate! during the war of 1014-1918 shall be in mind1 (fl will endeavor to take steps in matters mat-ters of international concern for the prevention and control of disease. ARTICLE XXIV There shall be placed under the direction di-rection of the league all International bureaus already established by general treaties If the parties to such treaties consent. All such international bureaus and all commissions for the regulation hereafter constituted shall be placed under the direction of the league. In all matters of international Interest In-terest which are regulated by general conventions, but which are not placed under the control of international bureaus bu-reaus or commissions, the secretariat of the league shall, subject to the consent con-sent of the council and if desired by the parties, collect and distribute all relevant rele-vant Information, and shall render any other assistance which may be necessary neces-sary or desirable. The council may Include as part of the expenses of the secretariat the expenses ex-penses of any bureau or commission which is placed under the direction of the league. ARTICLE XXV Tho members of the league agree to encourage and promote the establishment establish-ment and co-operation of duly authorized author-ized voluntary national Red Cross or-, or-, ganizations having as purposes improvement im-provement of health, the prevention of disease and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world. ARTICLE XXVI Amendments to th is covenant will take effect when ratified by the mem- 1 bers of the league whose representatives- compose the council and by a majority of the members ot the leagTie whose representative! compose the assembly. No such amendment shall bind any member of tine league which signifies its dissent therefrom, bat In that case it shall cease to be member of the leogtie. ANNEX TO COVENANT I. Original members of the league of nations, signatories of the treaty of peace: United States of America, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, British empire, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, China, Cuba, Czecho-Slovakia, Ecuador, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hedjaz. Honduras, Italy, Japan. Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Pol-and, Portugal, Rumania, Serbia, Siam. Uruguay. States invited to accede to the covenant: cove-nant: Argentine Republic, Chile, Colombia. Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Para-guay, Persia, Salvador, Spain, Sweden. Switzerland Venezuela. II. First secretary general of the league of nations, Sir James Eric Drummond. to nnd a representative to sit as a member at any meeting of the council during the cons i derail), of matters specially affecting the interests of that member of the league. At meetings of the council, each member of the league represented on (he council ehatl have one vote, and may have not more than one repre-sentaii repre-sentaii ve. ARTICLE V Except where otherwise expressly provided In this covenant, or by the terms of this treaty, decisions at any meeting of the assembly or of the council shall require the agreement of all the members of the league represented repre-sented at tho meeting. All matters of procedure at meetings meet-ings of the assembly or the council, coun-cil, the appointment of committees to Investigate particular matter, hall be rea;u luted by the assembly assem-bly or by the coonrll, and may be abided by a mnjorlty of the members mem-bers of the league represented at the meeting. Tho first meeting of the assembly and the first meeting of the council shall be summoned by the President of ; tho United States of America. I ARTICLE VI The permanent secretariat shall be : established at the seat of the league, j The secretariat shall comprise a secretary sec-retary general and such secretaries and staff as may be required. The first secretary general shall be the person named in the annex; thereafter there-after the secretary general Bhall be appointed by the council with the approval ap-proval of the majority of the assembly. The secretary general shall act in that capacity at all meetings of the assembly and of the council. The expenses of the secretariat shall be borne by the members of the league in accordance with the apportionment of the expenses of the international bureau. of the universal postal union. ARTICLE VTI The seat of the league is established at Geneva. The council may at any time decido that the seat of the league shall be established elsewhere. All positions under or In connection with the league, including the secretariat, secre-tariat, shall be open equally to men and women. Representatives of the members of the league and officials of the league when engaged on the business of tho league shall enjoy diplomatic privileges privi-leges and immunities. The buildings and other property occupied by the league or its officers or by representatives attending the meetings shall be inviolable. ARTICLE VIII The members of the league recogrtiza that the maintenance of a peace requires re-quires the deduction of national armaments arma-ments to the lowest point consistent with national safety and the enforcement enforce-ment by common action of international interna-tional obligations. The council, taking account of the geographical situation and circumstances circum-stances of cacK state, shall formulate plans for such reduction for the consideration con-sideration and action of the several governments. Such plans shall be subject to reconsideration recon-sideration and revision at least every ten years. After these plans have been adopted bj' the several governments, limits of armaments herein fixed shall not be exceeded without the concurrence of the council. The members of the league agree that the manufacture by private enterprise en-terprise of munitions and implements of war is open to grave objections. The council shall advise how the evil effects ef-fects attendant upon such manufacture can be prevented, due regard being had to the necessities of those members of the league which are not able to manufacture manu-facture the munitions and implements of war necessary for their safety. The members of the league undertake under-take to interchange full and frank information in-formation as to the scale of their armaments, their military and naval programs and the condition of such of their industries as are adaptable to warlike purposes. ARTICLE IX A permanent commission shall be constituted to advise the council on the execution of the provisions of Articles I and VIII and on military and naval questions generally. ARTICLE X The members of the league undertake un-dertake to respect and preserve as against external aggression the territorial Integrity of all members of the leafrne. In case of any sneh aseression or in rase of any threat or danger of snrh aKsresston, the coo aril shall advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be fulfilled. ARTICLE XI The. war or threat of war, whether Immediately affecting any of thd members mem-bers of the league or not, U hereby declared a matter of concern to the whole league, and the league shall take j any action that may be deemed wise , and effectual to safeguard the peace of I nations. In case any such emergency should arise, the secretary general shall, on the request of any member of I the league, forthwith summon a meeting meet-ing of the council. It Is also declared to be the fundamental funda-mental right of each member of the ; league to bring to the attention of the j assembly or of the council any circum-I circum-I stance whatever affecting international internation-al relations which threatens to disturb either the peace or the good understanding under-standing between nations upon which peace depends. ARTICLE XII The members of the league agree that If there should arise between them any dispute likely to lead to a rupture they will submit the matter either to' arbitration or to inquiry by the council, and they agree in no case to resort to war until three months after the award by the arbitrators or the report of the council. In any case under this article the award of the arbitration shall be made within a reasonable time, and the report re-port of the council shall be made within with-in six months after the submission of the dispute. ARTICLE XIII The members of the league agree that whenever any dispute shall arise between them which they recognize to be suitable for submission to arbitration arbitra-tion and which cannot be satisfactorily satisfactori-ly settled by diplomacy, they will submit sub-mit the whole subject matter to arbitration. arbi-tration. Disputes as to the interpretation interpreta-tion of a treaty, as to any question of International law, as to the existence of any fact, which, ff established, would constitute a breach of any international internation-al obligation, or as to the extent and nature of the reparation to be made for any such breach, are declared to be among those which are generally suitable suit-able for submission to arbitration. For the consideration of any such dispute the court of arbitration to which the case is referred shall be the court agreed on by the parties to the dispute and stipulated in any convention existing exist-ing between them. The members of the league agree that they will carry out in full good faith any award that may be rendered ren-dered and that they will not resort to war against a member of the league which complies therewith. In the event of any failure to carry out such an award, the council shall propose what steps should be taken to give effect thereto. ARTICLE XIV The council shall formal ate and submit sub-mit to the members of the league for adoption plans for the establishment of international justice. The court shall be competent to hear and determine deter-mine any dispute of an international j character which the parties submit to it. The court may also give an advisory opinion upon any dispute or o,uestion referred to it by the council or by the assembly. ARTICLE XV If there should arise between members mem-bers of the league any dispute likely to lead to a rupture, which is not submitted sub-mitted to arbitration as above, the members of the league agree that they will submit the matter to the council. Any party to the dispute may effect such submission by giving notice of the existence of the dispute to the secretary secre-tary general, who will make all necessary neces-sary arrangements for a full investigation investiga-tion and consideration thereof. For this purpose the parties to the dispute will communicate to the secretary general, gen-eral, as promptly as possible, statements state-ments of their case, all the relevant facts and papers; and the council may forthwith direct the publication thereof there-of The council shall endeavor to effect a settlement of any dispute, and If such efforts are successful, a statement shall be made public giving such facts and explanations regarding the dispute and terms of settlement thereof as the council may deem appropriate. If the dispute is not thus settled, the council either unanimously or by a ' majority vote, shall make and publish a report containing a statement of the facts of the dispute and the recom- i mendations which are deemed just and proper in regard thereto. i Any member of the league represent- ed on the council may make public a statement tjf the facts of the dispute and of its conclusions regarding the : same. j If a report by the council is unani- mously agreed to by the members : thereof, other than the representatives j of one or more of the parties to the! dispute, the members of tse league j agree that they will not go to war ! with any party to the dispute which complies with the recommendations of the report. If the council fails to reach a report re-port which is unanimously agreed to by the members thereof, other than the representatives of one or more of the parties to the dispute, the members mem-bers of the league reserve to themselves them-selves the right to take such action as they shall consider necessary for the maintenance of right and justice. If the dispute between the parties is claimed by one of them, and is found by the council, to arise out of a matter which by international law is solely within the domestic jurisdiction jurisdic-tion of that party, the council shall so report, and shall ' make no recommendations recom-mendations as to Its settlement. Th council may In any case under un-der this article refer the dispute to the assembly. The dispute shall be so referred at the request of either party to the dispute, provided that such request be made within fourteen four-teen days after the submission of the dispute to the council. In any case referred to the assembly as-sembly all the provisions of this article and of Article XII relating to the action and powers of the council coun-cil shall apply to the action and powers of the assembly, provided that a report be made by the assembly, if concurred in by the representatives representa-tives of those members of the league represented on the council and of a majority of the other members of the league, exclusively In each case of the representatives of the parties to the dispute, shall have the same force as a report by the council concurred con-curred in by all the members thereof other than the representatives of one or more of the parties to the dispute. ARTICLE XVI Should any member of the leagMe ; resort to war In disregard of its cov enants under Articles XII, XIII or XV. it shall ipso facto be deemed to have committed an act of war against all the other members of the league, which hereby undertake immediately to subject sub-ject it to the severance of all trade or financial relations of the covenant-breaking covenant-breaking state and the prevention of all financial, commercial or personal intercourse between the nationals of the covenant-breaking state and the nationals na-tionals of ajiy other state, whether a member of the league or not. It shall be the duty of the council in such case to recommend to the several governments concerned what effective military or naval forces th members of the league shall severally contribute to the armaments of forces to be used to protect the covenants of the league. The members of th league agree, further that they will mutually support sup-port one another in the financial and economic measures which are taken under this article. In order to minimize mini-mize the loss ajid inconvenience resulting re-sulting from the above measures, and that they will mutually support one another in resisting1 any special measures meas-ures aimed at one of their number by the covenant-breaking state, and that they will take the necessajry steps to afford passage through their territory to the forces of any of the members of the league which are co-operating to protect the covenants of the league. Any member of the league which i has violated any covenant of the league ! may be declared to be no longer a j member of the league by a vote of ! the council concurred in by the repre-j repre-j aentativos of all the other members of the league represented thereon, ARTICLE XVII In the event of a dispute between a member of the league and a state which is not a member of the leag'ue, or between states not members of the league, the state or states not members mem-bers of the league shall be invited to accept the obligations of membership in the league for the purposes of such dispute, upon such conditions as the council may deem just. If such invitation invi-tation is accepted, the provisions of Articles XII to XVI, inclusive, shall be applied with such modifications as may bo deemed necessary by the council. coun-cil. Upon such invitation being given, the council shall immediately institute insti-tute an inquiry into the circumstances ' of the dispute and recommend such action as may seem best and most effectual ef-fectual in the circumstances. If a state so Invited shall refuse to accept the obligations of membership in the league for the purposes of such dispute, and shall resort to war aEainst a member of the league, the provisions of Article XVI shall be applicable as against the sta.te taking such action. If both parties to the dispute, when so invited, refuse to accept the obligations obliga-tions of membership in the league for the purposes of such dispute, the council may take such measures as will prevent hostilities and will result in the settlement of the dispute. ARTICLE XVIII Every convention or International encasement entered Into henceforward hencefor-ward by any member of the leagme hall be forthwith registered with the secretariat and shall as soon aa possible be published by it- No such treaty or International engagement en-gagement shall be binding until so registered. ARTICLE XIX The assembly may from time to time advise the reconsideration by members of the leagroe of treaties which have become Inapplicable, and the consideration of international interna-tional conditions whose continuance continu-ance might endanger the peace of the world. ARTICLE XX The members of the league severally several-ly agree that this covenant is accepted ac-cepted as abrogating all obligations or understandings inter se which are inconsistent with the terms hereof, and -.olemnly undertake that they will not hereafter enter into any engagements inconsistent with the terms thereof. In case members of the league shall, before becoming a member of tha league, have undertaken any obligations obliga-tions inconsistent with the terms of this covenant, it shall be tho duty of such member to take immediate steps to procure his release from such obligations. obli-gations. ARTICLE XXI Nothing in this covenant shall be deemed to affect the validity of international inter-national engagements, such as treaties of arbitration or regional understandings understand-ings like the Monroe doctrine for securing se-curing the maintenance of peace. ARTICLE XXII To those colonies and territories which as a consequence of the late war have ceased to be under the sovereignty of the states which formerly for-merly governed them, and which are Inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand by themselves, under the strenuous stren-uous conditions of the modern world, there should be applied tho principle that the well-being and development of such peoples form a sacred trust of civilization and that securities for the performance of this trust should be embodied in this covenant. The best method of giving practicable prac-ticable effect, to this principle Is that the tutelage of such peoples be entrusted en-trusted to advanced nations who, by reasons of their resources, their experience ex-perience and their geographical position, posi-tion, can best undertake this responsibility, respon-sibility, and who are willing to accept ac-cept it, and that this tutelage should be exercised by them as mandatories on behalf of the league. The character of the mandate must differ according to the stage of the development of the people, the geographical geo-graphical situation of the territory, its economic condition and other film ilar circumstances. Certain communities formerly belonging be-longing to the Turkish empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognized, subject sub-ject to the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a mandatory until such time as they are able to stand alone. The wishes of these com-i com-i munlties must be a principal consideration consider-ation in the selection of the mandatory. manda-tory. Other peoples, especially those of Central Africa, are at such a stage that the mandatory must be responsible respon-sible for the administration of the territory under conditions which will guarantee freedom of conscience or religion, subject only to the maintenance main-tenance of public order and morals, the prohibition of abuses, such as the slave trade, the arms traffic and the liquor traffic, and the prevention j of the establishment of fortifications i or military and naval bases and of j military training of the natives for ' other than police purposes and the defense of territory, and will also secure se-cure equal opportunities for the trade" and commerce of other members of the league. ! There are territories, such as Southwest South-west Africa, and certain of the South Pacific islands, which, owing to the sparseness of their population or their small si2e or their remoteness from the centers of civilizations or their geographical contiguity to the territory terri-tory of the mandatory and other circumstances, cir-cumstances, can be best administered under the laws of the mandatory as Integral portions of its territory, su b-ject b-ject to the safeguards above mentioned men-tioned in the interests of the Indigenous Indigen-ous population. In every case of mandate, man-date, the mandatory shall render to the council an annual report in reference refer-ence to the territory committeed to its charge. The degree of authority, control or administration to be exercised by the mandatory shall, if not previously agreed upon by the members of the league, be explicitly defined in each case by the council. A permanent commission shall be |