Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1919 — OFFICAL SUMMARY OF COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS ISSUED [ARTICLE]

OFFICAL SUMMARY OF COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS ISSUED

Paris, April 14. —The following official summary of the covenant of the league of nations has been issued: •‘l. The league of nations is founded io order to promote international co-operation and to secure peace. The league will include: (a) The belligerent states named in a document annexed to the covenant; (b) all the neutral states so named, and (c) in the future any self-governing country whose admission is approved by two-thirds of the states already members of tpe league. "A state may withdraw from the league, providing it has kept its obligations to date, on giving two years' notice. “2. The league will act through an assembly comprising not more than three representatives of each of the member sta'es, each state having only one vote and a council comprising for the present one representative of each of the five great powers and each of four other powers as selected from time to time by the assembly. “The number of powers of each class represented on the council may •he increased by the unanimous consent of the council and a majority of the assembly. Other powers have the right to sit as members of the council during the decision of matters in which they are especially interested. “In the council, as in the assembly, each state will have only one vote. Both these bodies are to meet at stated Intervals (the council at least once a year), and at other times if required; both. can deal with any matter that is of international Interest or that threatens the peace of the world; the decision of both must be unanimous, except in certain specified cases, matters of procedure, for in-

stance, being decided by a majority vote. “The league will have a permanent secretariat, under a secretarygeneral. The secretariat and all other bodies under the league may include women equally with men. A permanent court of international Justice and various permanent commissioners and bureaus are also to be established. “3. The member states agree: fa) To reduce their armaments, plans for such reduction being suggested by the council, but only adopted with the consent of the states themselves, anu thereafter not to Increase them without the concurrence of the council; (b) to exchange full information of their existing armies and their naval and military program; (c) to respect each other's territory and personal independence, and to guarantee them against foreign aggression; (d) to spbmit all International disputes either to arbitration or to inquiry by the council, which latter, however, may not pronounce an opinion on any dispute whose subject matter falls solely within a state's domestic Jurisdiction; in no case io go to war till three months after an award, or an unanimous recommendation has been made and even then not to go to war with a etate which accepts the award or recommendation; *(e) to regard a state which has broken the covenant as havinig committed an act of war against the league, to break off all economic and other relations with it and to allow free passage through their territories to the troops of these states which are contributing armed force on behalf of the league. The council is to recommend what amount of force, if any, should be supplied by the several governments concerned, but the approval of the latter is necessary. (States not members of the

league will be invited to accept the obligations of the league for the purpose of particular disputes, and if they fail to comply may be forced.) (f) Not to consider any treaty binding until it has been communicated to the league, which will then proceed to publish it, to admit the right of the assembly to advise the reconsideration of treaties and international conditions which do not accord with present needs, and to be bound by no obligations inconsistent with the covenant. "A state which breaks its agreements may be expelled from the league by the council. “4. The covenant does not affect the validity of International engagements such as treaties of arbitration of regional understandings like the Monroe doctrine, for securing the maintenance of peace. “5. The former German colonies and the territories of the Ottoman empire are to be administered in the Interests of civilization of the league, which will exercise a general supervision. “6. The member states accept certain responsibilities with regard to labor conditions, the treatment of natives, the white slave traffic, the opium traffic, the arms traffic with uncivilized and semi-civilized countries, transit and trade conditions, public health and Red Cross societies. “7. The league is recognized as the central body interested in coordinating and assisting international activities generally “8. Amendments to the covenant require the approval of all the states of the council and a simple majority of those in the assembly. States which signify their dissent from amendments thus approved are not bound by them, but, in this case, cease to be members of the league.’’