LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 122, 17 February 1919, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

PROVISIONS OF THE COVENANT

DUTIES OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES

FAIR AND HUMANE CONDITIONS'OF . LABOUR

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

(Rec. February 16, 5.5 p.m.) • London, February 14. The text of the League of Nations covenant has been officially published. The preamble states:— . In order to promote international co-operation and secure international peace and security by acceptance of obligations not to resort to war, by prescription of open, just, and bonourable relations between nations by the firm establishment of understandings of international law, as tne actual rule of conduct among Governments, and by the maintenance ot • a just and scrupulous, respect of all treaty obligations, in the dealings or organised peoples with one another, the Powers signatory to this covenant adopt this condition of the League of Nations. The opening articles declare that the action of the covenanting parties shall be effected through meetings of representative delegates at stated ' intervals, at the seat of the League or elsewhere, and through meetings ot the Executive Council and the permanent International Secretariat, at the seat of the League, at more frequent intervals. Each contracting .'' party at avmeeting of the delegates shall have one vote, but. no more than three representatives. The Executive Council shall con sist ot representatives of the British Empire, the United States, France, .Italy Japan, and' four other- States selected by the delegates. A council meeting shall be held at least once annually at the seat of the League or else- / where. Any matter within the sphere of the League or affecting the ' world's peace' may be dealt with at ssuch meetings. Invitations shall be sent to any Power to attend a council meeting at which matters directly affecting its interests are to be discussed. No decision is to be bmdimr unless such invitation is extended. The President of the United States shall summon the first meeting of representative delegates and the Executive "Article VII lays down that admission to the League of States which are not signatories to the covenant will require the assent of not less than two-thirds of the States in the Body of Delegates, and shall be limited to The Size of Armaments, fullv self-governing countries, including Dominions and colonies. . ' Article VIII states that the high contracting parties have recognised the'principle that the maintenance of peace requires a reduction ot national armaments to the lowest point consistent with national safety, and bv the enforcement by common action of international obligations, navin» especial regard to the geographical situation and the circumstances of each. State. And the Executive Council shall formulate plans, effecting such reduction. The Executive Council shall aso determine for the consideration and action of the several Governments what militaiy equipment and armament would be fair and reasonable in-proportion to the , scale of forces laid down in the programme of disarmament The*; limit, when adopted, shall not be exceeded without permission of the Executive Council. The high contracting parties agree that private manufacture of * ■ munitions and implements of war lends i self to grave objections and they direct tbe Executive Council to advise how the evil effects attendant on such manufacture can- be prevented, with due regard > to the necess.ifaea of the countries which are unable to manufacture for themselves the munitions and implements of war necessary to their safety. The hid. contracting parties undertake to in no wise conceal, from each other the conditions of such of their industries as are capable of being adapted to warlike purposes or the scale of their armaments. They agree to full and frank interchange of information regarding military and naval pioerammes A permanent commission shall be constituted to nd\i!>e the League or the Executive of the foregoing provisions and military and naval questions generally. :, , ~ . Article X states that the high contracting parties undertake, to espect and preserve against external aggression the to ™ >"«Pj* and existing political independence of all members of the League. Ino Executive Council shall advise how this obligation shall be fulfilled where aggression is carried out or threatened.

■ i Peace Safeguards. . Article XII says: The high contracting parties reserve the right to Me any action deemed wise and.effectual to safeguard the peace.. loch of the hi-h contracting parties is entitled to draw the League s attention . to circumstances likely to affect the international peace or good understanding on which peace depends. The high contracting parties agree m no case to resort to war without previously submitting their unadiustablo disputes to arbitration or inquiry by the Executive Council, and until three months after an award bv the arbitrators or a recommendation by the Executive Council, and will not oven then resort to .war against a member of the League which complies with such award or recommenda, tion. The award of the arbitrators shall be made within a reasonable time and the Executive Council's recommendation within six months after the submission of the dispute. The Court of Arbitration shall be a Court a»reed upon by the disputants.' The high contracting parties agree to carry out in full and good faith any award. If an award is not earned out the Executive Council shall propose the best steps- to give effect thereto. Provision is made for the establishment of a permanent Court of International Justice, which shall be competent to determine any matter submitted for arbitration. If a dispute arises between members ot the League which is likely to lead to a rupture, and which has not been submitted to arbitration, the high contracting parties agree to refer the matter to the Executive Council. The parties concerned shall .promptly furnish statements of their case, and arrangements shall be made, for publication of the nature of the dispute and tho terms of settlement ami appropriate explanations where a settlement is effected. • Tf a dispute is not settled the council shall publish all necessary frets and an explanation of the recommendations which the council thinks just for settlement. If this report is unanimously agreed to by the council other than the disputants, the high contracting parties agree not to resort to war with any party complying with the recommendations. If any party .refuses to comply, the council shall propose the measures necessary to give effect to the recommendations, but if no such unanimous report can be reached, majority and minority statements and recommendations shall bo issued, antt : . provision made fof reference by the Executive- Council of the dispute to the representative delegates designated the Body of Delegates, who thereupon are vested with Executive Council powers. Protection of the League's Covenants. Article XVI declares: If any of the high contracting parties break or disregard covenants under Article XII it ipso facto shall be deemed to have commited an act of war against all the other nations of the League, whicb hereby undertake to immediately subject it to the severance ot all trade and financial relations and prohibit all intercourse between their nationals and the nationals of the covenant-breaking State, the prevention of all financial,'commercial, and personal intercourse between the nationals of tho covenant-breaking State and the nationals of any other State, whether a member of the League or not. It shall be the Lxecutne Council's dutv to recommend what effective military or naval force tiie members of the League sliall severally contribute to the armed force to be used to protect the League's covenants. The high contracting parties agree to mutually support one another in financial- and economic measures under this article, in order to minimise resultant loss and inconvenience. They will mutually support one another in resisting special measures aimed at one of their number by a covenant-breaking .State and afford passage through their territory to the forces 'of any high contracting parties co-operating to protect the League's covenant. Disputes Between non-Members. Article XVII deals with disputes between non-members of the League or between non-member States. The high contracting parties agree that non-member States shall be invited to accept the obligations of membership of the League for the purposes of u dispute. The Executive Council shall thereupon immediately institute inquiry into the circumstances and merits of the dispute, and recommend the most desirable action. Should a non-member Power refuse to accept the obligations of membership and take action against a member of the League which action, in the case of a member of the League, would constitute a breach of Article XII, then the. provisions of Article XVI shall be applicable against the State taking such action. If both disputants decline t 0 accept the obligations of membership for the purpose of their dispute, tho Executive Council shall take steps to prevent hostilities and bring about a settlement of the dispute. It is laid down that the League is entrusted with a general supervision of the .trade in arms and ammunition in the countries in whioh control of tins traffic is necessary. Control of Late Enemy Territory. Article XIX deals with colonies and territories which in consequence of the late war ceased to be under the sovereignty of the Stats formerly governing them, and which are inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand bv themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world. 1 rinciples should be applied that the well-being and development of suchpeoples form a sacred ti'U6t for civilisation, and securities for the perform-, ance of this trust should be embodied in the League's Constitution, the best method of giving practical effect to this principle is that the tutelage of such peoples should be entrusted to advanced nations who, by reason of their resources and experience and geographical position; can best undertake this responsibility; and that this tutelage should be exercised by them as mandatories on behalf of the League. The character of the mandate must differ according to the stage of development of the people, the geographical situation of the territory, the economio conditions, and other (similar circumstances. Certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish Empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nation* can be provisionally recognised, subject to the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by the mandatory Power until such time as they are able to etand alone. The wishes of these communities must be a principal consideration in the selection of the mandatory. Other people, especially those in Central Africa, are at such a stage that the mandatory must be responsible for the administration of the territory, subject to conditions which guarantee freedom of conscience or religion, subject only .to the maintenance of public order and m°™ s ' the prohibition of abuses such as slave trade, arms and liquor traffic, the prevention of the establishment of fortifications or military and na.val bases,' and the military training of th e natives for other than police purposes and the defence of the territory, and will also secure equal opportunities for trade and commerce with other members of the League. There are territories, such as South-West Africa and certain South Pacilic islands, which, owing to sparseness of population, or small size, or remoteness from the centres of civilisation, or geographical contiguity to the ■ mandatory State, or other circumstances, can best bo administered under the laws of the mandatory State as ; ntegral portions thereof, subject to the safeguards mentioned above. In the interests of the indigenous population the mandatory State shall render the League an annual report in reference to tho territory committed tc its charge. Tho degree of authority, control, or administration to be exercised by tho mandatory State shall, if not. previously agreed upon by the high contracting parties, is each case be explicitly defined by the Executive Council in a special Act or Charter. 1 ie high contracting parties further agree to establish at the seat ot the League a Mandatory Commission to receive and examine tho annual report of the mandatory Powers and assist the League in ensuring the observance of the terms of all inundates. Maintenance of Fair Conditions of Labour. Article XX states, that the high contracting parties shall endeavour to secure and maintain fair and humane conditions of labour for men, Women, and children in their own and all countries to which their com-

mercial and industrial relations extend, and agree to establish as part of the organisation of the League a permanent Labour Bureau. The League is appointed the instrument to secure and maintain freedom, of transit and equitable treatment for commerce of all members. All international bureaux henceforth constituted shall ba placed under the Leagues control, and also existing bureaux if the parties thereto agree. No treaty or international agreement hereinafter entered into by members ot.the League shall ba binding until registered with the Secretariat of the League, which shall publish it as soon as possible. The Body of Delegates will periodically advise reconsideration by members of the League of treaties which become inapplicable and international conditions the continuance of which may endanger the peace of the wor d. The high contracting, parties accept the present covenant as the abrogation of all obligations inter se which are inconsistent with the terms thereof and solemnly engage not hereinafter to enter into engagements inconsistent with the terms thereof. Present and future members of the League are bound immediately to take steps to procure releases from such inconsistent obligations. ■ The final Article XXVI, provides for the effectiveness of amendments to the covenant when ratified by the States whose representatives compose the Executive Council and by * three-fourths of the States whose representatives compose the Body of Delcgates.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable As s n.Reuter.

GENERAL AGREEMENT REACHED

NATIONS COMPRISING THE LEAGUE.

Paris, February 14. A general agreement has been reached regarding the Society of Nations. France makes important reservations. . .*,..• lU . It is proposed that, the Societv of Nations will consist of Great Britain, the United States of \merica, Japan. France, and four other nations, according to the formal announcement of President Wilson at the plenary session—All6.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.

AMERICAN COMMENT ON THE COVENANT

(Rec. February 16, 5.5 p.m.) New York, February 15. The American Press.comment on the League covenant is cautious, and doubt is expressed as to the attitude of Congress. Mr. Taft is pleased with the results, which are better than lie had hoped for.. European exigencies, he considers, will in course of time supply further safe-guards.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE BRITISH EMPIRE

SYMBOL OF THE FUTURE LEAGUE,

New York, February 11. Mr Charles Grasty, Paris ■correspondent of tie New York "Times," says that nothing impresses the American Press delegates more than the presence m Paris of the representatives of the self-governing British Dominions, who, ike themselves represent young nations and civilisations in the process of development. Tile Americans see in the Empire the symbol of what the League of Nations'will become. It appeals to the American imagination to see the association of Dominions hound to the Mother Country by invisible links of a common ancestry, a common purpose, and common ideals.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.