LEAGUE OF NATIONS BOND

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 39, 17 February 1919, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS BOND

THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES

AVOIDANCE OF FUTURE WARS.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

(AUS. AND N.Z. CADLE ASSN. AND REUTER.)

LONDON, 14th February

The text of the League of Nations covenant has been officially published. The preamble states : —

In order to promote international cooperation and secure international peace and security by acceptance of obligations not to resort to war, by prescription of open, just, and honourable relations between nations by the firm establishment of understandings of international law as the actual rule of conduct among Governments, and by the maintenance of a just and scrupulous respect of all treaty obligations in the. dealings of 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 of the Executive Council and the permanent International Secretariat,- at the seat of tie League, at more frequent intervals. Each contracting party at a meeting of the delegates shall have one vote, but not more than three representatives. The Executive Council shall consist of 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 'elsewhere. Any matter within the sphere of the League or affecting the world's peace may be dealt with at such 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 bindfng^unless' such an invitation is extended. The President of the United States shall summon the first meeting of representative delegates and the Executive Council.

Article VII. lays down that admission to the League of States which are not signatories to i-e covenant will require the assent of not less than two-thirds of the States in the-Body of Delegates, and shall be limited to, fully self-govern-ing countries, including Dominkms and colonies.

LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS

Article VIII. states that the high contracting parties have recognised the principle that the maintenance of peace requires a reduction of national armaments to the lowest point consistent with national safety, and by the enforcement by common action of international obligations, having 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 also determine for the consideration and action of the several Governments, what military equipment and armament would be fair and reasonable in proportion to the scale of forces laid down in the programme of disarmament. These-, limits, when adopted, shall not be exceeded without permission of the Executive Council. The high contracting parties agree i that private manufacture of munitions and implements of war lends itself to grave objections, and they direct the Executive Council to advise how-the evil effects attendant on such manufacture can be prevented, with due regard to the necessities of the countries which are unable to manufacture, for themselves the munitions and implements of war necessary to their safety. The- high contracting parties undertake not in any way to conceal from teach 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 a full and frank interchange of information regarding military and naval programmes. A permanent commission shall be constituted to advise the League or the Executive on the foregoing provisions and military and naval questions generally.

Article X. states that the high contracting parties undertake to respect and preserve against external aggression the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all members of the League. The Executive Council shall advise how this obligation shall be fulfilled where aggression is carried out or threatened.

ARBITRATION PROVISIONS,

Article XII. says : The high contracting parties reserve the right to take any action deemed wise and effectual to safeguard the peace. Each of the high 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 in no^case to resort to'war without previously submitting their unadjustable disputes to arbitration or inquiry by the Executive Council, and until three months after an award by the arbitrators or a recommendation by the Executive Council, and will not even then resort to war against a member of the League which complies with such award or recommendation. The award of the arbitrators shall be made within a reasonable time, and the Eexecutive Council's recommendation within six months after the submission of the dispute. The Court of Arbitration shall be a Court agreed upon by the disputants. The high contracting parties agree to carry out in full and good faith any award. If an award is not carried 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 mem-, •bers of the League, which is likely tolead to a rupture, and which has not been submitted to arbitration, the high contractihg_ parties agree to refer the matter to tlie 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 the terms of settlement, and appropriate explanations where a settlement is effected. If a dispute is not settled the Council shall publish' all necessary facts 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 which complies with the recommendations. If any party refuses to comply, the Council 6hall- 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 be issued, and provision made for reference by the Executive

Council of the dispute to the representative delegates designated the Body of Delegate's, who thereupon are vested with Executive Council powers.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES

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 committed an act of war against all the other nations of the League, which hereby undertake to subject it immediately to the severance of all trade and financial relations and prohibit all intercourse between their nationals and the nationals of the covehant-breaking State, the prevention of all financial, commercial, and personal intercourse between the nationals of the covenant-breaking State and the nationals of any other State, whether a member of the League or not. It shall be the Executive Council's duty to recommend what effective military or. naval force the members of the League shall 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 will afford passage through their territory to the forces of any of the high contracting parties co-operating to protect the League's covenant.

CONTROL OF NON-LEAGUED NATIONS. "-

Article. XVII. deals with disputes b» tween non-members of the League- or between non-member States. The high contracting parties agree that non-mem-ber States shall be invited to accept the obligations of membership of the League for the purposes of a dispute. The ExecutivevCouncil shall thereupon immediately institute inquiry into the circumstances and merits of the dispute, and recommend the mose 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 to accept the obligations of membership for the purpose of their dispute, the 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 which control of this traffic is necessary.

THE CONQUERED TERRITORIES.

Article XIX. deals with colonies and territories which in consequence of the late war ceased to be under the sovereignty of the State formerly governing, them, and which are inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world. The principles should-* be applied that the well-being and development of such' peoples form a sacred trust for civilisation, and that securities for the performance of this trust should be embodied in the constitution of the League. 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 v differ according to the stage of development of the people, 'the geographical situation of the territory, the economic conditions, and - other similar circumstances. Certain communities formerly belonging to the ' Turkish Empire have reached a-• stage, of development where their existence as independent nations 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 stand 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 morals, the prohibition of abuses such as slave trade, arms, and liquor traffic, the prevention of the establishment of fortifications or military and naval bases, and the'military training of the 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, sueli as South-West Africa and certain South Pacific 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 be administered under the laws of the mandatory State as integral 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 the territory committed to its charge. The degree of control, or administration to be exercised by the mandatory State shall, if not previously agreed upon by the-high contracting parties, in each case be explicitly defined by the Executive Council in a special Act or Charter. The high contracting parties further agree to establish at the seat of the League a Mandatory Commission to receive and examine the annual report of the mandatory Powers and assist the League in ensuring the observance of the terms of all mandates.

A WORLD LABOUR SCHEME

' Article XX. states that the high contracting parties shall eiideavoun to secure and maintain fair and humane conditions of labour for men, women, and children in their own and all countries to which their commercial 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 be placed under the League's control, and also existing bureaux if the parties thereto agree. No treaty or international agreement hereinafter entered into by members of the League shall -be binding until registered with the Secretarial 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 world. The high contracting partjes accept the present covenant as the abrogation of all obligations inter se which are inconsistent •with the terms thereof, and solemnly en gage not hereinafter to enter into engagements inconsistent with the terms thereof. Presout and future members of tho 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 -State*-whose representatives compose the Body of Delegates.