Show COVENANT OF THE complete text of this important document As it was signed at pans and which Is now causing discussion in this country the people of the united states lne been asked by both the proponents and the opponents of the peace treaty and league of actions at ions covenant to elve expression to their desires as to the ratification of the treaty as it stands or alth amendments or reser nations borne of them have respond ed at the meetings addressed by the president and by the opposing senators or by communications to their senators but the ast majority of the people are handicapped by their ig norance of the matter probably not one in ten thousand has read the covenant of the league of athons at lons as it was presented to the senate main ly because few have had the opportunity in order that our readers may be prepared to do their full duty as citizens in regard to the controversy the complete text of the covenant Is herewith presented and they are asked to read it carefully fhe high contracting parties in order to promote international co operation and to achieve international peace and security by the acceptance of obligations not to resort to war by the prescription of open just and honorable relations between nations by the firm establishment of the understandings of international law as the actual rule ot conduct among governments and by the maintenance of justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty obligations in the dealings of organized peoples with one another agree to this covenant of the league of nations I 1 the original members of the league of nations shall be those of the signatories signa tories which are named in the annex to this covenant and also such of those other states named in the annex as shall accede without reservation to athla covenant such accession hall be effected by a declaration deposited with the secretariat within two months of the coming into force of the covenant thereof shall be sent to all other members of the league any fully self governing state dominion or colony not named in the annex may become a member of the league it its admission la agreed to by two thirds of the assembly provided that it shall give effective guarantees of its sincere intention to observe its international obligations and shall accept guch regulations as may be prescribed by the league in regard to its military naval and air forces and armaments any member of the league may after two years notice of its intention so to do withdraw from the league provided that all its international obligations and all its obligations under this covenant shall have been fulfilled at the time of its withdrawal the action of the league under this covenant shall be I 1 effected through the instrumentality of an assembly and of council with a permanent secretariat AllT ICLE athe assembly shall consist of representatives of the members of the league the assembly shall meet at stated intervals and from time to time as occasion may require at the beat of the league or at such other place as may be decided upon the assembly may deal at its meetings with any matter within the sphere of action of the league or affecting the peace of the world at meetings of the assembly each member of the league shall have one vote and may have not more than three representatives 4 the council shall consist of of the principal allied and associated powers together with representatives of four other members of the league these four members of the league shall be selected by the assembly from time to time in its until the appointment of the representatives of the tour members of the league arst selected by the assembly representatives of belgium brazil spain and greece shall be mem bera of the council with the approval of ahe majority of the assembly the council may name members of the league whose representatives senta tives shall always be members of the council the council with like approval may increase the number of members of the league to be selected by the assembly for representation on the council the council shall meet from time to time as occasion may require and at least once year at the seat of the league or at such other place as may be decided upon the council may deal at its meetings with any matter within the sphere of action of the league or affecting the peace of the world any member of the tague not rep resented on the council shall be in voted to send a representative to sit as a member at any meeting of the coun ell during the consideration of matter specially affecting the interests of that member of the league at meetings of the council each member of the league represented on the council shall have one vote and may have not more than one depre S except where otherwise expressly provided in this covenant or by the terms of the present treaty decisions at any meeting of the assembly or of the council shall require the agreement of all the mem bers of the league represented at the meeting all matters of procedure at meetings of the assembly or of the council in eluding the appointment of committees to investigate particular matters shall be regulated by the assembly or by the council and may be decided by a ina of the members 0 the league represented at the meeting tre arst meeting of the assembly aind the farst meeting of the council shall be summoned by the president of tre united states of america a the permanent secre shall be established at the seat of the league the secretariat shall comprise a secretary general d such and staff aa may be re the arst secretary general shall be 1 e person named in the annex thereafter the secretary general shall be pointed by the council with the ap boval of the majority of the assembly the secretaries and staff of the sec att lat shall be appointed by the secretary beneral with the approval of the council the secretary general hall act in that capacity at all meetings of the as embly and of the council the expenses of the secretariat hall 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 7 the seat 0 the league Is established at geneva the council may at any time decide that the seat of the league shall be established elsewhere alt positions under or in connection with the league including the barlat shall be open equally to exha and women representatives of the members of the league and officials of the league when engaged eng ag ed on the business of the league shall enjoy diplomatic leges and immunities the buildings and other property occupied by the league or its officials or by representatives its meetings shall be inviolable 8 the members of the league recognize that the maintenance of peace requires the reduction of national armaments to the lowest point consistent with national safety and the enforcement by common action of international ter obligations the council taking account of the geographical situation and circumstances of each state shall formulate plans for such reduction tor the con coni i alteration and action of the several governments such plans shall be subject to reconsideration and revision at least every ten years after these plans shall have been adopted by the several governments the limits of armaments therein fixed shall not be exceeded without the concurrence of the council fhe members of the league agree that the manufacture by private enterprise of munitions and implements of war Is open to grave objections the council shall advise how the evil effects 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 the munitions and implements of war necessary for their safety the members of the league under take to interchange full and frank information 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 BA B A permanent commission shall be constituted to advise the council on the execution of the provisions of articles 1 and 8 and on military and naval questions generally 10 the members of the league undertake to respect and pro serve as against external aggression the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all members of the league in case of an aggression gres sion or in case of any threat or danger of such aggression the council shall advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be fulfilled 11 any war or threat of war whether immediately affecting any of the members of the league or not Is hereby declared a matter of con cern to the whole league and the league shall take any action that may be deemed wise and effectual to safeguard the peace of nations in case any such emergency should arise the secretary general shall on the request of any member of the league forthwith summon a meeting of the council it Is also declared to be the friendly right of each member of the league to bring to the attention of the assembly or of the council any circumstance whatever affecting international relations which threatens to disturb international peace or the good understanding between nations upon which peace depends ARTICLE 12 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 by the council in any case under this article the award of the arbitrators shall b made within a reasonable time and the report of the council shall be made within six months after the submission of the dispute ARTICLE members of the league agree that whenever any dispute shall arise between them which they recognize to be suitable for submission to arbitration and which cannot be satisfactorily settled by diplomacy they will submit the whole subject matter to arbitration disputes as to the interpretation of a treaty as to any question of international law as to the existence of any tact which it established would constitute a breach of any international 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 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 or stipulated in any convention existing between them the members of the league agree that they will carry out in fall good faith any award that may be rendered and that they will not resort to war against a member of the league which compiles the event of any failure to carry out such an award the council shall propose what steps should be taken to give effect thereto E H the council shall formulate and submit to the members of the league for adoption plans tor the establishment of a permanent court of international justice the court shall be competent to hear and determine any dispute of an international character which the parties thereto submit to it the court may also give an advisory opinion upon any dispute or question referred to it by the council or by the assembly ARTICLE IS if there should arise between members of the league any dispute likely to lead to a rupture which Is not submitted to arbitration in accordance with article 13 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 general who will make all necessary arrangements for a full investigation and consideration thereof for this purpose the parties to the dispute will communicate to the sec detary general as promptly as possible statements of their case with all the relevant facts and papers and the council may forthwith direct the pub ll catlon thereof the council shall endeavor to effect a settlement of the dispute and if such efforts are successful a statement shall be made public giving such facts and explanation regarding the dispute and the 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 statement of the facts of the dispute and the recommendations ions which are deemed just and proper in regard thereto any member of the league represented on the council may make public a statement 0 the facts 0 the dispute and of t conclusions regarding the came it a report by the council Is unanimously agreed to by the members thereof other than the representatives of one or more of the parties to the dispute the members of the league agree that they will not go to war with any party to the dispute which compiles bilth the recommendations of the report it the council falls to reach a report which Is unanimously agreed to by the members thereof other than the depre of one or more of the par tips to the dispute the members of the league reserve to th emelea the right to take such action as they shall con alder necessary for the maintenance of right and justice it the dispute between the parties Is j 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 of that party the council sl all so report and shall make no recommendation as to its settlement the council may in any case under this article refer the dispute to the as the dispute shall be so re erred at the request of either party to tha dispute provided that such request be made within 14 days after the sub mission of the dispute to the council in any case referred to the assembly all the provisions of this article and of article 12 relating to the action and powers of the council shall apply to the action and powers of the assembly provided that a report made by the assembly it concurred in by the representatives of those members of the league represented on the council and of a majority of the other members of the league exclusive in each case of the representatives of the parties to the dispute shall have the same force as a report by the council concurred in by all the members thereof other than the representatives senta tives of one or more of the parties to the dispute 18 should any member ot the league resort to war in disregard of its covenants under articles 12 or 15 it shall ipso facto bo deemed to have committed an act of war against all other members of the feague which hereby undertake immediately to subject it to the severance of all trade or financial relations the prohibition of all intercourse between their nationals and the nationals of the covenant breaking state and the prevention of all financial commercial or personal intercourse between the nationals of the covenant breaking state and the nationals of any 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 naval or air force the members of the league shall severally contribute to the armed forces to be used to protect the covenants of the league the members of the league agree further that they will mutually support one another in the financial and economic measures which are taken under this article in order to minimize the loss and inconvenience resulting from the above measures and that they will mutually support one another in resisting any special measures aimed at one of their number by the covenant breaking state and that they will take the necessary 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 |