OCR Text |
Show LEAGUE OF NATIONS COVENANT OUTLINES WORLD PEACE PACT Agreement Designed to Prevent Future Wars Subscribed to by Fourteen Governments. Draft for World Pact Read by President Presi-dent Wilson Before Plenary Session of Paris Conference, Having Been Unanimously Accepted. Paris. At the plpnary session of the preliminary peace conference Friday afternoon, February 14, President Wilson, Wil-son, as chairman of the commission on the league of nations, read and explained ex-plained the following report: "Preamble In order to promote International co-operation and to secure se-cure international peace and security by the acceptance of obligations not to resort to war, by the prescription of open, just and honorable relations between be-tween nations, by the firm establishment establish-ment of tlie understandint; of international interna-tional law us the actual rule of conduct con-duct ainouK governments and by the 'maintenance of Justice and a scrupulous scrupu-lous respect for all treaty obligations" in the dealings of organized peoples with one another, the powers signatory to this covenant adopt this constitution constitu-tion of the league of nations: Article 1: The action of the high contracting parties under the terms of this covenant shall he effected through the instrumentality of a meeting of a body sof delegates representing the high contracting parties, of "meetings .V more frequent intervals of an executive execu-tive 'council and a permanent international interna-tional secretariat to be established at the seat of the league. Regular Meetings Plan "Article II Meetings of the body of delegates shall be held at stated intervals in-tervals and from time to time as occasion oc-casion may require for the purpose of dealing "with, matters in the sphere of action of the league. Meetings of the bodies1 of delegates shall he held at the seat of the league or at such other place as may be found convenient, and shall consist of representatives of the high contracting parties, who shall iiave one vote, but may have not more than three representatives. "Article III The executive council shall consist of representatives of the United States of America, the British empire, France, Italy and Japan, together to-gether with representatives of . four-other four-other states, members of the league. The selection of these four states shall he made by the hotly of delegates on such principles and in such, manner as they think lit. "Pending the appointment of these representatives of the other states representatives shall be members of the executive council. "Meetings of the council shall be held from time to time as occasion may require, and at least once a year at whatever place may he decided on. or failing any such decision at the seat of the league, and any matter within the sphere of action of the league or affecting af-fecting the peace of the world may be dealt with at such meetings. Majority to Decide. "Invitations shall be sent to any power to attend a meeting of the council coun-cil at which such matters directly affecting' af-fecting' its interests are to' be discussed and no decision taken at any meeting will be binding on such powers unless so invited. "Article IV All maters of procedure at meetings of the body of delegates or the executive council, including the appointment of committees to investigate investi-gate particular matters, shall be regulated regu-lated by the body of delegates or the executive council, and may be decided by a majority of the states represented at the meeting. "The first meeting of the body of delegates and of the executive council shall be summoned by the President of the United Slates of. America. "Article V The permanent secretariat, secre-tariat, of the league shall be established estab-lished at ( ), which shall constitute consti-tute the seat of the league. The secretariat secre-tariat shall comprise such secretaries and stuff as may he required under the general direction and control of a secretary-general of the league, who shall be chosen by the executive council; coun-cil; the secretariat shall he appointed by the secretary -general, subject to confirmation by the executive council. "The secretary-general shall act in that capacity at all meetings of the body of delegates or (if the executive council. Expense is Apportioned "The expenses of the secretariat ' shall be borne by the states mem bers of the league. In accordance with upport ioliment of the expenses of t lft1 international bureau of the 1'niversal Postal union. "Article VI Representatives of the high contracting parties and of those of the league, wlien engaged in the business of the league, shall enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities and the buildinirs occupied by the league or its officials or by representatives represen-tatives attending the meetings shall eniov tin' benefits of oxtru-territorial-it.v. "Article VII Admission to the league of states not signatories to the covenant and not named iu the proto- col hereto as stated to be invited to adhere to the covenant, requires the assent of not less than two-i birds of the states represented in the body of delegates, and shall be limited to fully self-governing countries, including dominions do-minions ami colonies. "No state shall be admitted to the league unless it Is able to give effective effec-tive guarantees of its sincere intention inten-tion to observe its international obligations obli-gations and unless it shall conform to each principle as may be prescribed by the league in regard to its naval and military forces and armaments. "Article VIII The high contracting parties recognize the principle that the maintenance of peace will require the reduction of national armaments to the lowest point consistent with nation::! safety and the enforcement by common action of international obligation, having hav-ing special regard to the geographical situation and circumstances of each state; and the executive council shall formulate plans for effecting such reduction. re-duction. The executive council shall also determine for the consideration and action of the several governments what military equipment and armament arma-ment is fair and reasonable in proportion propor-tion to the scale of forces laid down in the program of disarmament and these limits, when adopted, shall not he excelled without the permission of the executive council. War Munitions Menace "The high contracting parties agree that the manufacture by private enterprise enter-prise of munitions and implements of war tends it to grave objections and direct the executive council to advise how the evil effects attendant upon such manufacturecan be prevented, due regard being fiaid to the necessities necessi-ties of those countries which are not able to manufacture for themselves the munitions and implements of war necessary nec-essary for their safety. "The high contracting parties undertake under-take in no way to conceal from each other the conditions of such of their industries as are capable of being adapted to war purposes or the scale of their armaments, and agree that there shall be full and frank interchange inter-change of information as to their military mili-tary and naval programs. "Article IX A permanent commission commis-sion shall be constituted to advise the league on the execution of the provisions pro-visions of article VIII and on military and naval questions generally. "Article X The high contracting parties shall undertake to respect and preserve as against external aggression, aggres-sion, the territorial integrity and existing exist-ing political independence of all states members .of the league. In case of any such aggression or in case of any threat or danger of such aggression, the executive council shall advise upon means by which the obligation shall he fulfilled. "Article XI Any war or threat of war, whether immediately affecting any of the high contracting parties or not, is hereby declared a matter of concern con-cern to the league, and the high contracting con-tracting parties reserve the right to take any action that may be deemed wise and effective to safeguard the peace of nations. Arbitration First Resort "It is hereby also declared and agreed to be the friendly right of each of the high contracting parties to draw the attention of the body of delegates or of the executive council to any circumstances cir-cumstances affecting international course which threatens to disturb international in-ternational peace or the good understanding under-standing between nations upon which peace depends. "Article XII The high contracting parties agree that should disputes arise between them which cannot be adjusted adjust-ed by the ordinary processes of diplomacy, diplo-macy, they will in no ease resort to war without previously submitting the questions and matters involved either to arbitration or to inquiry by the executive ex-ecutive council and until three months after the award by the arbitrators or recommendations of the executive council and that they will not even then resort to war as against a member mem-ber of the league which, complies with the award of the arbitrators or the recommendation of the executive council. coun-cil. "In any case under this article the award of the arbitrators shall he made within a reasonable time and the recommendation rec-ommendation of the executive council shall be made within "sx month after the submission of the disputes. "Article XIII The. high contracting parties agree that whenever any dispute dis-pute or differences shall arise between them which they recognize to be suitable suit-able for submission to arbitration and which cannot he satisfactorily settled by diplomacy they will submit the whole matter to arbitration. For this purpose the court of arbitration to which the case is referred shall he the court agreed on by the parties or stipulated stip-ulated in any convention existing between be-tween them. The high contracting parties par-ties agree that they will carry out in full good faith any award that may be rendered. In event of any failure to carry out the award, the executive council shall propose what steps can best be taken to give effect thereto. Court to Hear Disputes. "Article XIV "-The executive1 council coun-cil shall formulate plans for the establishment es-tablishment of a permanent court of international justice and this court shall, when established, be competent to hear and determine any matter concerning con-cerning the parties recognized as subject sub-ject for submission to it for arbitration arbitra-tion under the foregoing article. "Article XV If there should arise between states members of the league any dispute likely to lead to rupture which is not submitted to arbitration as above the high, contracting parties agree that they will refer t lie matter to the executive council ; either party to the dispute may give notice of the existence of the dispute to tlie -secretary-general, who will make all necessary neces-sary arrangements for a full investigation investiga-tion and consideration thereof. For this purpose tlie parties agree to communicate communi-cate to the secretary-general as promptly as possible, statemenls of their case with all the relevant papers and the executive council may forthwith forth-with direct the publication thereof. "Where the efforts of the council lead to the settlement of the dispute, a statement shall be published indicating indicat-ing the nature of the dispute and tlie terms of settlement, together with such explanations as may be appropriate. If tlie dispute has not been settled a report re-port by the council shall be published, selling forth, with all necessary far-is and explanations, the recommendations which the council think just and proper pro-per for the settlement of the dispute, if the report is unanimously agreed to by the members of the council other than the parties to tlie dispute, tlie liich contracting parties agree that they will not go to war with any parry which complies with the recommendations recommenda-tions and that, if any party shall refuse re-fuse so to comply, tilt1 couu.-il sl:all j pr'pose measures no.-ossnry to give ef-i ef-i feet to the recommendations. If n, : such report can be made, it shall be the duty of the majority and the privilege of the minority to issue statements indicating in-dicating what they believe to be the facts and containing the reason which they consider to he just and proper. "The executive council may in any case under this article refer the dispute dis-pute to the body of delegates. The dispute dis-pute shall he so referred at the request of either party to the dispute provided that such request must he made within fourteen days titter the submission of the dispute. In a case referred to the body of delegates, the provisions of this article and of article XII relating to action and powers of the executive council shall apply to the action and powers of tlie body of delegates. Trade Break is Threat "Article XVI Should any . of the high contracting parties break or disregard disre-gard its covenants under article XII it shall thereby ipso, facto he declared to have committed an act of war as against all the other members of the league which hereby undertakes immediately im-mediately to subject it to severance of all trade or financial relations, the prohibition pro-hibition of all intercourse between their nationals and the nations of the covenant-breaking state and the prevention pre-vention of all financial, commercial or personal intercourse between the nationals na-tionals 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 tlie executive execu-tive council in such cases to recommend recom-mend what effective military or naval force the members of the league shall severally contribute to the armed forces to be used to protect the covenants coven-ants of the league. "The high contracting parties agree further that they will mutually support sup-port one another in the financial and economic measures which may he taken under this article, in order to minimize tlie loss and inconvenience resulting from the above measures, and that they will mutually support one another in resisting any special measures meas-ures aimed at one of their number by the covenant-breaking state and they will afford passage through their territory ter-ritory to the forces of any high contracting con-tracting parties who are co-operating to protect the covenants of the league. "Article XVII In the event of disputes dis-putes between one state member of the league and another state which is not a member of the league, or between be-tween states not members of the league, the high contracting parties agree that the state or states not members mem-bers of the league shall be invited to accept the obligations of the membership member-ship in the league for the purposes of such dispute upon such, conditions as the executive council may deem just, and upon acceptance of such invitation, invita-tion, the above provisions shall be applied ap-plied with such modifications as may be deemed necessary by the league. "Upon such indication being given the executive council shall institute an inquiry into the circumstances and merits of the dispute and recommend steps to be taken as seem to be best and effectual. "In the event of a power so invited refusing to accept the obligations of membership in the league for the purpose pur-pose of a dispute which in the case of a state member of the league would constitute a breach of article XII, the provision of article XIV shall be applicable ap-plicable as against the "state taking such, action. To Control Munitions "If both parties to the dispute when so invited refuse to accept the obligations obliga-tions of membership in the league for the purpose of such dispute, the executive exec-utive council may take such action and make such recommendations that will prevent hostilities and will result in the settlement of the dispute. . "Article XVIII The high contracting contract-ing parties agree that the league shall be entrusted with general supervision super-vision of the trade in arms and ammunition am-munition with the country in which control of this traffic is necessary in the-cotiimon interest. "Article XIX 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 owned them and which are inhabited by the peoples not yet able to stand by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world there had been applied the principle. prin-ciple. that the well-being and development develop-ment of such people form a sacred trust of covenant and that securities for the permanence of this trust should he embodied in the constitution of the league. "The best method of giving practicable prac-ticable effect to this principle is that the tutelage of such peoples should be entrusted to advanced nations, who. by reason of their lesources. by experience experi-ence and their geographical position can best undertake the responsibility and that this tutelage should be accepted ac-cepted by them as mandatories on behalf be-half of the league. "The character of the mandate must differ according to the state of the development of the people, the geographical geo-graphical situation of the territory, its economic conditions and other similar circumstances. "Certain communities formerly belonging be-longing to the Turkish empire have readied a stage of development that their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognized subject sub-ject to the rendering of advice toward development and assistance by a mandatory man-datory power until such time as they are able to stand alone. The wishes of these communities must be a principal prin-cipal condition in the selection of the mandatory power. Internal Rule Necessary. "Other peoples, especially those of central Africa, are ai such a stage that the mandatory must be respinsi-ble respinsi-ble for the administration of the territory ter-ritory subject to conditions which will guarantee freedom of conscience or re-, re-, liudon. subject only to The maintenance of public order and morale, the pro-ihihition pro-ihihition of abuses such as the slave ! rade. tlie arms traffic and the liquor traffic and the prevention of the establishment es-tablishment of fortifications or military mili-tary or naval b:iM-s and of miliinry training of the natives for other than police purposes and the defense of territory ter-ritory and will also secure equal opportunities op-portunities for the Trade and oniinei-ec of other members of the h-mrue. "There are territories, sin-h as southwestern south-western Africa and certain of the Snllth Pacilic i!;!icN. whirli. owinu' to the sparseiiess of their population or I their small size or their remoteness , from the centers of civilization, or the ' geographical contiguity to the manda- j tory state, and other circumstances. ; can be best administered under the laws of the mandatory state as integral inte-gral portions thereof, subject to the safeguards above mentioned in the interest in-terest of the indigenous population. "In every case of mandate the mandatory man-datory state shall render to the league an an .il report in reference to the territory committed to its charge. "Tlie degree of authority, control or administ ration to be exercised by the mandatory slate shall, if not previously pre-viously agreed upon by the high contracting con-tracting parties in each case, be explicitly ex-plicitly defined by the executive council coun-cil in a special act or charter. "The high contracting parlies further fur-ther agree to establish at the seat of the league a mandatory commission to receive and examine the annual reports re-ports of the mandatory powers and to assist the league in insuring the observance ob-servance of the terms of all mandates. "Article XX The high contracting parties 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 countries to which their commercial and industrial relations extend, and to that end agree to establish as part of the organization of .the league a permanent bureau of labor. "Article XXI The high contracting parties agree that provision shall be made through the instrumentality of the league to secure and maintain freedom free-dom of transit and equitable treatment for the commerce of all states members mem-bers of the league, having in mind among other things, special arrangements arrange-ments with regard to the necessities of the regions devastated during the war of 1914-1919.. . Treaties to Be Registered. "Article XXII The high contracting parties agree to place under the control con-trol of the league all international bureaus bu-reaus already established by general treaties if the parties to such treaties consent. Fundamentally, they agree that all such international bureaus to be constituted in future shall be placed under control of the league. "Article XXIII The high contracting contract-ing parties agree that every treaty or international engagement entered into hereafter by any state-member of the league shall be forthwith registered with the secretary general, and as soon as possible published by him, and that no such treaties or international engagement en-gagement shall be binding until so registered. reg-istered. Article XXIV It shall be the right of the body. of delegates from time to time to advise the reconsideration by states-members of the league of treaties which have become inapplicable inapplic-able and other international conditions of which the continuance may endanger en-danger the pea (jo of the world. "Article XXV The high contracting parties severally agree that the present pres-ent covenant is accepted as abrogating all obligations which are inconsistent l with the terms thereof and solemnly engage that they will not hereafter enter into any engagement inconsistent with tlie terms thereof. In case any of the powers signatory hereto are subsequently sub-sequently admitted to the league, they shall, before becoming a party to this covenant, have undertaken any obliga-, Hons which are inconsistent with the terms of this covenant, it shall be the duty of such, power to take immediate steps to procure its release from such obligations. "Article XXVI Amendments to this covenant will take effect when ratified rati-fied by the states whose representatives representa-tives compose .the executive council and by three-fourths of the states whose representatives compose the body of delegates." |