ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 136, 5 December 1935, Page 17

ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

LEAGUE RESOLUTIONS

TEXT OF DECISIONS

The resolutions adopted by the League of Nations on October 4, 1921, . govern the application, of economic sanctions, and it may be useful to quote them textually in view of the Geneva discussions, says the "Manchester Guardian." They are as follows: — I. The resolutions and the proposals lor amendments to article 16 which have been adopted by the Assembly shall, so long as the amendments have not been put in force in the form required by the Covenant, constitute rules for guidance which the Assembly recommends as a provisional measure to the Council and to the members of the League in connection with the application of article 16. . 2. Subject to thfc special provisions of article 17, the economic measures referred to in article 16 shall be applicable enly y the specific case referred to in this article. 3. The unilateral action of the defaulting State cannot create a state of war; it merely entitles the other members of the League to resort to acts of war or to declare themselves in a state of war with the Covenantbreaking State; but it is In accordance with the spirit of the Covenant that the League of Nations should attempt, at least at the outset, to avoid war, and io restore peace by economic pressure. 4. It is the duty of each member of the League to decide for itself whether 'a breach of the Covenant has been committed. The fulfilment of. their duties under article 16 is required from members of the League by the express terms of the Covenant, and they cannot neglect them without breach of their1 treaty obligations. INITIAL PROCEDURE. 5. All cases of breach of Covenant under article 16 shall be referred to the Council as a matter of urgency at the request of any member of the League. Further, if a breach of Covenant be committed, or if there arise a danger of such breach being committed, the Secretary-General shall at once give notice thereof to all the members of the Council. Upon receipt of such request by a member of the League, or of such a notice by the Sec-retary-General, the Council will meet as soon as possible. The Council shall summon representatives of the partia? to the conflict and of all States which are neighbours of the defaulting State, or which normally maintain close economic relations •with it, or whose co-operation would be especially valuable for the application of article 16. 6. If the Council is of opinion that a State has been guilty of a breach cf Covenant, the minutes of the meeting at which that opinion is arrived at shall be immediately sent to-all members of the Le; gue, accompanied by a statement of reasons and by an invitation to take action accordingly. The fullest publicity shall be given to this decision. 7. For the purple o f assisting it to enforce article 16 the Council may, if it thinks fit, be assisted by a technical committee. This committee, which will remain in permanent session as soon as the action decided on is taken, may include, if desirable, representatives of the States cpecially affected. 8. The Council shall recommend the date on which the enforcement of economic pressure, under article 16, is to be begun," and shall give notice of that date to nil: the members of the League.'' /-7 :,':•' ' • ... 9. All States must be.treated alike as regards the application of the measures of economic pressure, with the following ; reservations:—(a) It may be necessary to recommend the execution of special measures by certain States. (b) .If it is thought desirable to postpone,.wholly or partially, in the case of certain States, the effective application of the economic sanctions laid down in article 16, such postponement shall not be permitted except in so far as it is desirable for the success of 1". 2 common plan of action, or reduces to a minimum the losses -or ■ embarrassments which may be entailed in the case .of certain members of "the League by the application of-'the sanctions." •• 10. It is not possible to decide beforehand, and in detail, the various measures of an economic, commercial, and financial' nature to be taken in each case where economic pressure is to be applied. When the case arises the Council shall reco mend to the members of the League a plan for joint action. 11. The interruption oi , diplomatic relations may,- in' the first' place, be limite. to the withdrawal of the heads of the missions. 12. Consular relations may .possibly be maintained. 13. For the purposes of the severance of relations between persons belonging to the Covenant-breaking Sta+~ and persons belonging to other States members of the League, the test shall te residence and not nationality. INCREASING STRINGENCY. 14. In cases of prolonged application of economic pressure, measures of increasing stringency may be-taken. The cutting off of therfdbd supplies of the civil population of the defaulting State shall be regarded as an extremely drastic measure which shall only be applied if the other measures available are clearly inadequate. 15. Correspondence and- all other methods of communication shall be subjected to special regulations. 16. Humanitarian relations shall be continued; 17. Efforts hould be made to arrive at arrangements which would ensure •the co-operation' of States non-mem-bers of the League in the measures to be taken. 13. In special circumstances and in support of economic measures to be> taken, it may become advisable (a) to establish an effective blockade of the seaboard of the Covenant-breaking State; (b) to entrust to some members of the. League the execution of the blockade operations. 19. The Council shall urge upon all •the States members of the League that their Governments should take the necessary preparatory . measures, above all of a legislative character, to enable them to enforce at short notice the necessary measures of economic pressure.