| Show COVENANT I 1 OF THE L LEAGUE OF NATIONS Complete Text of This Important Document As It Was Signed at Paris and Which Is Now Causing Discussion in inThis inThis inThis This Country The people of ot the United States have been asked by both the proponents and the opponents of the peace treaty and League of ot Nations covenant to give expression to their desires as to the ratification of ot the treaty as asIt asIt It stands or with amendments or reser reser- Some of ot them have responded respond respond- ed at the meetings addressed by the president and by the opposing senators senators senators sena sena- tors or by communications to their senators But the vast majority of ot the people are handicapped by their Ignorance Ignorance ignorance Ig Ig- norance of ot the matter Probably not one In ten thousand has read the covenant of at the League of ot Nations as ns asIt asit It was presented to the senate mainly mainly mainly main main- ly because few have had the In order that our readers may maybe maybe maybe be pr prepared to do their full duty as citizens In regard to the controversy the complete text of the covenant I Is herewith herC presented and they are asked to read It carefully The rhe high contracting parties In order to promote International operation co-operation and to achieve International peace and security by the acceptance of ot obligations obligations obligations obliga obliga- not to resort to war by the prescription prescription prescription pre pre- of ot open Just and honorable relations between nations ns by the firm establishment of ot the understandings o of ot international law as the actual rule of ot conduct among governments and by bythe bythe bythe the maintenance of ot justice and a scrupulous scrupulous scrupulous respect for tor all treaty obligations obligations obliga obliga- in the dealings of ot organized peoples peoples peoples peo peo- ples with one another agree to this covenant of ot the League of ot Nations ARTICLE 1 The IThe The original members of oC the League of ot Nations shall be those of ot the signatories which are named Inthe in inthe inthe the annex to this covenant and also such of ot those other states named in the annex as shall accede without reservation reservation reserva reserva- tion to this covenant Such accession shall be effected by a declaration deposited deposited de- de posited with the secretariat within two months of ot the coming Into force torce of ot the covenant Notice thereof shall be sent to all other members of ot the league Any fully tully self governing state do dominion dominion do- do minion or colony not named gamed in the annex annex annex an an- nex may become a member of ot the league If It Its admission is agreed to by two-thirds two of ot the assembly provided that It shall give effective guarantees of ot its sincere intention to observe its international obligations and shall accept accept accept ac ac- ac- ac such regulations as may be prescribed prescribed prescribed pre pre- scribed by the league In regard to its military naval and air forces and armaments arm arm- aments t tAny Any member of ot the league may after alter two years' years notice of ot Its Intention so to todo todo do withdraw from the league provided that all Its international obligations and all it Its obligations under this covenant covenant covenant cove cove- nant shall have been fulfilled at the time of ot Its withdrawal I ARTICLE 2 The The action of ot the league under this covenant shall be effected through the Instrumentality of ot otan an assembly and of ot a council with a permanent secretariat ARTICLE 3 The The assembly shall consist of ot representatives of ot the members of ot the league The assembly shall meet at stated In Intervals Intervals intervals In- In and from time to as occasion occasion occasion occa occa- sion may require at the seat of ot the league or at such other place as may maybe maybe maybe be decided upon The assembly may deal at its meetIngs meetIngs meetings meet- meet Ings with any matter within the sphere of ot of action of the league or affecting the peace of ot the world At meetings of the assembly each member of ot the league shall have one vote and may have not more than three representatives ARTICLE 4 The The council shall consist consist consist con con- of ot of ot the principal allied and associated powers together with representatives of ot four tour other members of ot the league These four tour members of ot the league shall be selected select select- ed edby by y the assembly from time to time In its discretion Until the appointment of ot the represent representatives of ot the four tour members members mem mem- bers bems of ot the league first selected by the assembly representatives of ot Belgium Brazil Spain and Greece shall be members members members mem mem- bers of ot the council With the approval of ot the majority of ot the assembly the council may name members of ot the league whose representatives representatives shall always be members of the council the council with like approval approval approval ap ap- ap- ap may increase the number of ot members of ot the league to be selected by the assembly for tor representation on the council The council shall meet from time to time as occasion may require and at least once a year at the seat of ot the league or at such other place as may maybe maybe maybe 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 ot the world Any member of ot the L' L Ingue gue not represented represented rep rep- resented on the council shall be Invited in invited invited In- In to send a representative to sit as asa asa a 0 member at any meeting of ot the council coun council coun- coun cil cli during the consideration of ot matters specially affecting the Interests of ot that member of ot the league At meetings of ot the council each member of ot the league represented on the council shall have one vote and may have not more than one representative 5 Except Except where otherwise otherwise otherwise other other- wise expressly provided In this covenant covenant covenant cove cove- nant or by the terms of ot the th present treaty decisions at any meeting of the assembly or of ot the council shall require re require re- re quire the agreement of ot all the members members mem mem- bers of ot the league represented at the meeting All matters of ot procedure at meetings of ot the assembly or of ot the council in including In in- the appointment of ot committees to tG o Investigate particular matters shall be regulated by the assembly or by the council and may be decided by a 0 majority majority ma- ma of the members bf bt the league represented at the meeting T The e first meeting of ot the assembly and ard the first meeting of ot the council shall atall be summoned by the president of oftie tl tie He e United States of ot America ARTICLE ARTICIE C. C The The permanent secretariat secretariat secre secre- shall be established at the seat of ot the league The secretariat shall comprise a secretary general ad ad such secretaries and staff as ma may mar be re re- re The first secretary general shall be beKe bethe Ke the person named In In the annex annel thereafter thereafter there there- there there- after ner the secretary general shall bE be Appointed by the council with the approval ap- ap roval of the majority of the assembly The rhe secretaries and staff state of ot the sec sec- shall be appointed by the secretary secretary secretary sec sec- general with the approval of ot the council The secretary general shall act In that capacity at all meetings of ot the as assEmbly assembly as- as sE and of ot the council The expenses of ot the secretariat shall be borne by the members of ot the league In accordance with the apportionment of the expenses of ot the International bureau of or the Universal Postal union ARTICLE 7 The The seat of ot the league Is la established at Geneva The council may at any time decide that the seat of ot the league shall be es established established established es- es elsewhere All All ll positions under or in connection with the league including the secretariat secretariat secre secre- shall be open equally to men and women Representatives of ot the members of ot the league and officials of ot the league when engaged on the business of ot the league shall enjoy diplomatic privileges privileges privileges leges and Immunities The buildings and other property oc occupied occupied occupied oc- oc by the league or its officials or orby orby orby by representatives attending Its meetIngs meetIngs meetings meet- meet Ings shall be inviolable ARTICLE 8 The s.-The The members of ot the league recognize that the maintenance of ot peace requires the reduction of ot national national national na na- na- na armaments to the lowest point consistent with national safety and the I enforcement by common action of ot In International International In- In obligations The council taking account of ot the geographical situation and circumstances circum- circum stan stances es of ot each state shall formulate plans for tor such reduction for tor the consideration consideration con con- and action of ot the several governments Such plans shall be subject to reconsideration reconsideration reconsideration recon recon- and revision at least every ten years After Atter these plans shall have been adopted by the several governments the limits of armaments therein fixed shall not be exceeded without the concurrence concurrence con con- currence of ot the council The rhe members of ot the league agree that the manufacture by private enterprise enterprise enterprise enter enter- prise of ot munitions and implements ort ott war is open to grave objections The council shall advise how the evil effects effects ef ct- ef- ef attendant upon such manufacture can can be prevented due regard being had to the necessities of ot those members of the tre- league which are not able to manufacture manufacture man man- the munitions and Implements of ot war necessary for tor their safety The members of ot the league undertake undertake undertake under under- take to Interchange full tull and frank in information information In- In formation as to the scale of ot their armaments armaments armaments arm arm- aments their military and naval programs programs programs pro pro- grams and the condition of ot such of oft I their industries as are adaptable to tow w warlike purposes ARTICLE C D. D A A permanent commission commission commis commis- sion shall be constituted to advise the council on the execution of ot the i provi-i lions of ot articles 1 and 8 and on mill mill- mill 1 tary and naval questions generally ARTICLE 10 The The members of ot the league undertake to respect and preserve preserve preserve pre pre- serve as against external aggression the territorial integrity and existing political Independence of ot all members of the league In case of ot any such aggression aggression aggression ag ag- ag- ag or In case of ot any threat or danger of ot such aggression the council shall advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be fulfilled ARTICLE 11 Any 11 Any war or threat of war whether Immediately affecting any of ot the members of ot the league or or not Is hereby declared a matter of ot concern concern concern con con- cern to the whole league and the league shall take any action that may maybe maybe maybe be deemed wise and effectual to safeguard safeguard safeguard safe safe- guard the peace of ot nations In case case any such emergency should arise the secretary general shall on the request of ot any member of ot the league forthwith summon a meeting of ot the council It Is also declared to be the friendly right of ot each member of ot the league to too bring to the attention of ot the assembly or of ot the council any circumstance whatever affecting international relations relations relations rela rela- which threatens to disturb International international Inter Inter-I national peace or the good understanding understand understand- ing between nations upon which peace depends ARTICLE 12 The 1 The members of ot the league agree that If It there should arise between them any dispute likely to lead to a rupture they will submit the matter either to arbitration or to Inquiry in inquiry inquiry In- In by the council and they agree agree in no case to resort to w war war r until three months after the award by the tle arbitrators arbitrators tors or the report by the council In any case under this article the theaward theaward theaward award of ot the arbitrators shall be made within a reasonable time and the re report report report re- re port of the council shall be made withIn within with with- in six months after alter the submission of ot the dispute ARTICLE ARTICIE 13 The 13 The members of ot the league agree that whenever any dispute dispute dispute dis dis- shall arise between them which they recognize to be suitable for tor submIssion submission submission sub sub- mission mIssion to o arbitration and which cannot cannot cannot can can- not be satisfactorily settled by diplomacy diplomacy diplomacy diplo diplo- macy they will submit the whole subject subject subject sub sub- matter to arbitration Disputes as to the interpretation of ot ofa ota a treaty as to any question of ot International law as to the existence of ot any fact which if It established would constitute constitute constitute con con- a breach of ot any International obligation or as to the extent and nature nature nature na na- na- na ture of ot the r reparation to be made for tor any such breach are declared to be among those which are generally suitable suitable suitable suit suit- able for tor submission to arbitration For the consideration of ot any such dispute the court of ot arbitration to which the case Is referred shall be bethe bethe bethe the court agreed on by the parties to the dispute or stipulated in any convention convention convention con con- existing between them The members of ot the league agree that they will carry out In full tull good faith any award that may be rendered and that they will not resort to war against a member of ot the league which complies therewith In the event ot of any failure to carry out such an award the council shall propose what step steps should be taken to give effect thereto 14 The The council ARTICLE shall formulate formulate for tor- and submit to the members of ot the league for tor adoption plans for the establishment of ot a permanent court courtot of ot international justice The court shall be bo competent to hear and determine determine determine deter deter- mine any dispute of ot 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 council council coun coun- cil or by the assembly ARTICLE IS It If If there should arise between members of the league any dispute likely to lead to a 0 rupture which Is not submitted to arbitration in accordance with article 13 the members members members mem mem- bers of ot the 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 ot the existence ex exIstence existence ex- ex of the dispute to the secretary general who will make all necessary arrangements for tor a full tull Investigation n nand and consideration thereof For this purpose the parties to the dispute will communicate to the secretary secretary secretary sec sec- general as promptly as possible statements of ot their case with all th then the l relevant facts and papers and the council may forthwith direct the publication publication publication pub pub- thereof The council shall endeavor to effect a settlement ment of oC the dispute and ond If such |
