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EIGHT
THE COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
As Presented to The U. S. Senate by
Wilson on July 10, 1919, and published in
The Congressinal Record of that Date.
THE HIGH CONTRACTING PAR
TIES
In order to promote
co-operation and to achieve
tionul peace and security
by the acceptance of
not to resort to war,
by the prescription of open, just
and honourable relat ions between
nations.
by the firm establishment of the
understandings of (international
law as the actual rule of conduct
among Governments, and
by the maintenance of justice and
a scrupulous respect for all treaty
obligations in the dealings of or
ganised people with one another
Agree to this Covenant of the League
of Nations.
ARTICLE 1.
The original Members of the Lea¬
gue of Nations shall be those of
.the Signatories which are named in
the Annex to this Covenant and also
such of those other States named in
the Annex as shall accede without re¬
servation to this Covenant. Such ac¬
cession shall be effected by a De¬
claration deposited with the Sec¬
retariat within two months of the
coming into force of the Covenant.
Notice 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 if its admission is agreed
to by two-thirds of the Assembly,
provided that it shall give effective
guarantees of its sincere intention
to observe its international obliga¬
tions, and shall accept such regula¬
tions as may be prescribed by the
League in regard to its military, na¬
val and air forces and armaments.
Any Member of the League may,
after two years’ notice of its inten¬
tion so to do, withdraw from the
League, provided that all its interna¬
tional obligations and all its obliga¬
tions under this Covenant shall have
been fulfilled at the time of its with¬
drawal.
ARTICLE 2.
The action of the League under
this Covenant shall be effected
through the instrumentality of an
Assembly and of a Council, with a
permanent Secretariat.
ARTICLE 3.
The Assembly shall consist of Rep¬
resentatives of the Members of the
League.
The Assembly shall meet at stated
intervals and from time to time as
occasion may require at the Seat 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 af¬
fecting the peace of the world.
At meetings of the Assembly each
Member of the League shall have one
vote, and may not have more than
three Representatives.
ARTICLE 4.
The Council shall consist of Rep¬
resentatives 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 se¬
lected by the Assembly from time to
time in its discretion. Until the ap¬
pointment of the Representatives of
the four Members of the League first
selected by the Assembly, Represen¬
tatives of Belgium, Brazil, Spain
and Greece, shall be members of the
Council.
With the approval of the majority
of the Assembly, the Council may
pame additional Members of the
League whose Representatives shall
always be members of the Council;
the Council with like approval may 0
increase the number of Members of
the League to be selected by the As
sembly 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
Seat of the League, or at such other
place as may be decided upon.
The Council may deal at its meet¬
ings with any matter within the
sphere of action of the League or af¬
fecting the peace of the world.
Any Member of the League not
represented on the Council shall be
invited to send a Representative to
sit as a member at any meeting of
the Council during the consideration
of matters specially effecting the
interests of that Member of the Lea
gue. each
At meetings of the Council,'
Member of the League represented
on the Council shall have one vote,
and may have not more than one
Representative.
THE LEADER TRIBUNE, FORT VALLEY, GA, OCTOBER 14, 1920
ARTICLE 5.
Except where otherwise
provided in this Covenant or
j the terms of the present Treaty,
, cisions at any meeting of the
bly or of the Council shall require
| of the the agreement League ' af represented all the Members the
at
j meeting,
All matters of procedure at meet
j ings of the Assembly or of the Coun
j cil, including the appointment of
Committees to investigate particular
I matters, shall be regulated by the
1 Assembly or by the council and
may be decided by a majority of
1 the Members of the League repre
| sented The first at the meeting meeting. of the Assembly
|
and the first meeting of the Council
shall be summoned by the President
of the United States of America.
ARTICLE 0.
The permanent Secretariat shall
be established at the Seat of the
League. The Secretariat shall com¬
prise a Secretary General and such
secretaries and staff as ma.v be re¬
quired.
The first Secretary General shall
be the person named in the Annex;
thereafter the Secretary General
shall be appointed by the Council
with the approval of the majority
of the Assembly.
The secretaries and staff of the
Secretariat shall be appointed by the
Secretary General with the approval
of the Council.
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 ap¬
portionment of the expenses of the
International Bureau of the Univer¬
sal Postal Union.
ARTICLE 7.
The Seat of the League is estab¬
lished at Geneva.
The Council may at any time de¬
cide that the Seat of the League
shall be established elsewhere.
All positions under or in connec¬
tion with the League, including the
Secretariat, shall be open equally to
men and women.
Representatives of the Members
of the League and officials of the
League when engaged on business of
League shall enjoy diplomatic
and immunities.
The buildings and other property
by the League or its offi
or by Representatives attending]
meetings shall be inviolable.
ARTICLE 8.
The Members of the League recog¬
that the maintenance of peace
the reduction of national
to the lowest point con¬
with national safety and the
by common action of
obligations.
The Council, taking account of
geographical situation and cir¬
of each State, shall form¬
plans for such reduction for
consideration and action of the
Governments.
Such plans shall be subject to re¬
and revision at least
ten years.
After these plans shall have been
by the several Governments,
limits of armaments therein
shall not be exceeded without
concurrence of the Council.
The Members of the League agree
the manufacture by private en¬
of munitions and implements
war is open to grave objections.
Council shall advise how the
effects attendant upon such
can be prevented, due
being had to tne necessities
f those Members of the League
are not able to manufacture
munitions and implements of war
for their safety.
The Members of the League un¬
to interchange full and
information as to the scale of
armaments, their military, naval
air programmes and the condi¬
of such of their industries as
adaptable to war-like purposes.
ARTICLE 9.
A permanent Commission shall be s
to advise the Council on a
execution of the provisions ot
1 and 8 and on military,
and air questions generally. I
ARTICLE 10.
I he Members of the League un
to respect and preserve as
external aggression the ter
integrity and existing polit- j
independence of all Members of
League. In case of any such ag
or in case of any threat or
■
of such aggression the Coun
snail advise upon the means by
i
which this obligation shall be
filled.
ARTICLE 11.
Any war or threat of war,
immediately affecting any of
Members of the League or not,
hereby declared a matter of
to the whole League, and the
j shall deemed take wise any action that may lie
j and effectual to safe
guard 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
circumstances, whatever affecting in¬
ternational 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
them any dispute likely to lead to a
rupture, they will submit the matter
either to arbitration or co inquiry by
the Council, and they agree in no
case to resort to war until three
t
after the award by the ar¬
bitrators or the report by the Coun
cil.
In any case under this Article the
award of the arbitrators shall be
made within a reasonable time, and
the report of the Council shall be
made within six months after the
submission of the dispute.
ARTICLE 13.
The Members of the League agree
that whenever any dispute shall arise
between them which they recognise
to be suitable for submission to at
bitration and which cannot be satis¬
factorily 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 in¬
ternational law, as to the existence of
any fact which if established would
constitute a breach of any interna¬
tional obligation, or as to the extent
nature of the reparation to be
made for any such breach, are de¬
to be among those which are
suitable for subm ission to
I'or the considerion of any such
the court of arbitration tO
the case is referred shall be
Court agreed on by the partie \s
the dispute or stipulated in any
existing between the m.
The Members of the I, eague agree
they will carry out in full good
any award that may be ren
nd that they will not resort
war against a Member of the Le a
which complies therewith. In the
of any failure to carry out
an award, the Council shall pro
what steps should be taken to
effect thereto.
ARTICLE 14.
The Council shall formulate and
to the Members of the League
adoption plans for the establish¬
of a Permanent Court of Inter¬
Justice. The Court shall be
to hear and determine
dispute of an international
which the parties thereto
to it. The Court may also
an advisory opinion upon any
or question referred to it by
Council or by the Assembly.
ARTICLE 15.
If there should arise between
of the League any dispute
to lead to a rupture, which is
submitted to arbitration in ac
with Article 13, the Me 111
of the League agree that they
submit the matter to the Coun¬
Any party to the dispute may ef¬
such submission by giving notice a
the xeistence of the dispute to the
General, who will make all
arrangements for a full
and consideration
For this purpose the parties to the
will communicate to the Sec¬
General, as promptly as pos
b ie, statements of their case with
^ be relevant facts and paper’s,
the Council may forthwith direct
publication thereof.
The Council shall endeavour to ef- j
a settlement of the dispute, and i
sucb efforts are successful, a
shall be made public giving
facts and explanations regard
the dispute and the terms of
thereof qg the Council
deem appropriate. ]
if the dispute is not thus settled, or! I
Council either unanimously
a majority vote shall make and i
publish a report containing a
merit of the facts of the dispute
the recommendations which
deemed just and proper in
thereto.
Any Member of the League
sented on the Council may
public a statement of the facts
the dispute and of its
regarding the same.
If a report by the council
unanimously agreed to by the
bers thereof other than the
sentatives of one or more of the
ties to th.e dispute, the Members
the League agree that triey will
go to war with any party to the
pute which complies with the
commendations of the report.
If the Council fails to reach a
port which is unanimously agreed
by the members thereof, other
the Representatives of one or
of the parties to the dispute,
Members of the League reserve
themselves the right to take such ac¬
tion 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 juris¬
diction of that party, the Council
shall so report, and shall make no
recommendation as to its settlement.
The Council may in any case un
dor this Article refer the dispute to
to the Assembly. The dispute shall
be so referred at the request of
either party to the dispute, provided
ihat such request be made within
fourteen days after the submission
of the dispute to the Council.
In any case referred to the Assem¬
bly, all the provisions of this Ar¬
ticle and of Article 12 relating, to
the action and powers of the
Council shal apply to the action
and powers of the Assem¬
bly, provided that a report made by
the Assembly, if concurred in by the
Representatives of those Members of
the League represented on the Coun¬
cil 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 mem¬
bers thereof other than the Repre¬
sentatives of one or more of the
parties to the dispute.
ARTICLE 10.
Should any Member of the League
resort to war in disregard of its
covenants undpr Articles 12, 13 or
15, it shall ipso facto be deemed to
have committed an act of war against
other Members of the League,
hereby undertake immediately
subject it to the severance of all
or financial relations, the pro
of all intercourse between
nationals and the nationals of
covenant-breaking State, and the
of all financial, commer¬
or persona intercourse be
the nationals of the covenant¬
State and the nationals of
other State, whether a Member
the I.cage or not.
It shall be the duty of the Coun
in such case to recommend to the
Governments concerned what
military, naval or air
the Members of the "League
severally contribute to the
forces to be used to protect
covenants of the League. |
The Members of the League agree, |
that they will mutually sup-j
one another in the financial and
measures which are taken
this Article, in order to mini- j
the loss and inconvenience re- \
from the above measures, and j
they will mutually support one
in resisting any special
aimed at one of
number by the covenant-break
State, and that they will take the ^
steps to afford passage
of their the Members territory of to the the League forces j
any
are co-operating to protect the
of the League.
Any Member of the League which
violated any covenant of the
may be declared to be no
a Member of iiie League by*j
vote of the Council concurred in by s
Representatives of all the other
of the League represented ,
ARTICLE 17. I
In the event of a dispute between 0
Member of the League and a State
is not a Member of the League,
to accept the obligations of
in the League for the .
of such dispute, upon such
as the Council may deem ,
If such invitation is accepted,,
provisions of Articles 12 to 16
shall be applied with such
as may be deemed
by the Council.
Upon such invitation being given I
Council shall immediately insti
an inquiry into the circumstan
of the dispute and recommend
action as may seem best and
effectual in the circumstances.
it’ a State so invited shall refuse
to accept the obligations of
bership in the League for the
poses of such dispute, and shall
, sort to war against a Member of
j League, the provisions of
16 shall be applicable as against
State taking such action.
If both parties to the dispute
so invited refuse to accept the
! turns of membership in the
for the purposes of such dispute,
Council may take such measures
make such recommendations as
prevent hostilities and will result
the settlement of the dispute.
ARTICLE 18.
Every treaty or international
gagement entered into hereafter
any Member of the League shall
forthwith registered with the
tariat and shall as soon as
be published by it. No such treaty
international engagement shall
binding until so registered.
ARTICLE 19.
The Assembly may from time
time advise the reconsideration
Members of the League of
which have become inapplicable
the consideration of
conditions whose continuance
ondanger the peace of the world.
ARTICLE 20.
The Members of the League
verally agree that this Covenant
accepted as abrogating all
tions or understandings inter
which are inconsistent with the
thereof, and solemnly undertake
they will not hereafter enter
any engagements inconsistent
the terms therof.
In case any Member of the
shall, before becoming a Member
the League, have undertaken
obligations inconsistent with
terms of this Covenant, it shall
the duty of such MemPer to
immediate steps to procure its
lease from such obligations.
ARTICLE 21.
Nothing in this Covenant shall
deemed to affect the validity of
ternational engagements, such
treaties of arbitration or
understandings like the
doctrine, for securing the
tenance of peace.
ARTICLE 22.
To those colonies and
which as a consequence of the
war have ceased to be under
sovereignty of the States
formerly governed them and
are inhabited by peoples not yet
to stand by themselves under
strenuous conditions of the
world, there should be applied
principle that the well-being and
velopment of such peoples form
sacred trust of civilisation and
securities for the performance
this trust should be embodied in
Covenant.
the establishments of
cal effect to this principle is that
tutelage of such peoples should
to advanced nations
reason of their resources,
or their geographical
can best undertake this
and who are willing
it, and that this tutelage
ould be exercised by them as Man
ono behalf of the League.
The character of the mandate
differ according to the stage of
development of the people, the
situation of the terri¬
its economic conditions and
similar circumstances.
Certain communities formerly be
ong i n g to the Turkish Empire have
d a stage of development
their existence as independent
fjons can be provisionally recog
j se d subject to the rendering of ad
advice and assistance by
Mandatory until such time as they
able to stand alone. The wishes
f t bese communities must be a prin
jp a i consideration in the selection\of
be Mandatory,
Other peoples, especially those of
Africa, are at such a stage
the Mandatory must be respon
j b i e f 0 r the administration of the
under conditions which will
Uaran tee freedom of conscience and
subject only to the main¬
of public order and morals,
prohibition of abuses such as the
ave trade, the arms traffic and the
traffic, and the prevention of
establishment of fortifications
military and naval bases and of
training of the natives for
ther than police purposes and the
of territory, and will also se
equal opportunities for the trade
commerce of other Members of
League.
There are territories, such as
Africa and certain of
South Pacific Islands, which,
to the sparseness of their
or their mall size, or
remoteness from ihe centres
civilisation, or their geographical
to the territory of the
and other circumstances,
be best administered under the
of the Mandatory as integral
of its territory, subject to
safeguards above mentioned in
interests of the indigenuous pop-
'
ulation.
In every case of mandate, the
Mandatory shall render to the Coun¬
c il an annual report In reference to
the territory committed to its charge.
The degree of authority, control,
• 0 r administration to be exercised by
the Mandatoory shall, if not pre¬
viously agreed upon by the Members
0 f the League, be explicitly defined
j n each case by the Council.
A permanent Commission shall be
constituted to receive and examine
in Members of the League shall be in
or between States not Members of
the League, the State or States not
the annual reports of the Manda¬
tories and' to advise the Council on
all matters relating to the observance
of the mandates.
ARTICLE 23.
Subject to and in accordance with
the provisions of international con¬
ventions existing or hereafter to be
, agreed upon, the Members of the
League:
(a) will endeavor to secure and
maintain fair and humane conditions
of labour for men, women, and child
ren> both in thejr own countries and
in a „ countries to which their com¬
mereial and industrial relations ex¬
tend, and for that purpose will es¬
tablish and maintain the necessary
international organisations;
(b) undertake to secure just treat¬
ment of the native inhabitants of ter¬
ritories under their control.
(c) will entrust the League with
the general supervision over the ex¬
ecution of agreements with regard
to the traffic in women and children,
and the traffic in opium and other
dangerous drugs;
(d) will entrust the League with
the general supervision of the trade
in arms and ammunition with the
countries in which the control of this
traffic is necessary in the common
interest.
(e> will make provision to secure
and maintain freedom of communica¬
tions and of transit and equitable
treatment for the commerce of all
Members of the League. In this con¬
nection, the special necessities of the
regions devastated during the war of
1914-1918 shall be*borne in mind;
(f) will endeavour to take teps in
matters of international concern for
the prevention and control of disease.
ARTICLE 24.
There shall be placed under the
direction of the League all interna¬
tional bureaux already established
by general treaties if the parties to
such treaties consent. All such inter¬
national bureaux and all commissions
for the regulation of matters of inter¬
national interest hereafter constitu¬
ted shall be placed under the direc¬
tion of the League.
In all matters of international in¬
terest which are regulated by gene¬
ral conventions but which are not
placed under the control of inter¬
national bureaux or commissions,
the Secretariat of the League shall,
subject to the consent of the Coun¬
cil and if desired by tne parties, col¬
lect and distribute all relevant in¬
formation and shall render any other
assistance which may be necessary
or desirable.
The Council may include as part of
the expenses of the Secretariat the
expenses of any bureau or commis¬
sion which is placed under the di¬
rection of the League.
ARTICLE 25.
The Members of the League agree
to encourage and promote the es
tablishment and co-opera:lon of duly
authorised voluntary national Red
Cross organizations having as pur
poses the improvement of health, the
prevention of disease and the mitiga¬
tion of suffering throughout the
world.
ARTICLE 26.
Amendments to this Covenant will
take effect when ratified by the
Members of the League whose Rep¬
resentatives compose the Council
and by a majority of the Members
of the League whose Representatives
compose the Assembly.
No such amendment shall bind
any Member of the League which
signifies its dissent therefrom but in
that case it shall cease to be a Mem¬
ber of the League.
Present Membership Of The Leag ue
Argentine Republic, Australia, Bel¬
gium, Bolivia, Brazil, British Em
pire, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,
Cuba, Czecho-Slovakia, Denmark,
France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti,
Hedjaz, India, Italy, Japan, Liberia,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru Persia,
Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Salvador’
Serbia, Siam, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Ven¬
Ecuador is considering the treaty
f peace in the current Congress.
has ratified, but the
of depositing the ratifi
are not yet complete Hondu
has completed the parliamentary
of ratification. The United
is eligible to original m em¬