THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 17038, 8 May 1919, Page 6

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

THE COVENANT. MEMBERSHIP. Members of the League will be signatories of the covenant, and other States are. invited to accede, who must lodge a declaration of accession without reservation within two months. Any State, Dominion, or colony may bo admitted, provided its admission is agreed to by twothirds of the Assembly. A State may withdraw upon giving two years' noticif it has fulfilled all its; international obligations. Secretariat. —A permanent secretariat wul ho established at the seat of tho League, which will be Geneva, Assemblv.—The Assembly will eoas:?t of representatives of members of the League, and will meet at stated intervals. The voting will be by States, each, member to have one vote and not more than three representatives. Council.-—The Council will consist ot representatives of the rive Great. Allied Towers, together with representative? from four other members selected by the Assembly from time to time. It may admit additional States, and will meet at least once a ve;i.r. -Members not represented will be 'invited to send representatives when questions affecting their interests are discussed. The voting will be. by States, each Slate to have one vote and not more than one representative. Decisions taken bv the Assembly and Council must be unanimous, except in regard to procedure, ami in certain cases specified in the covenant and in the treaty, where decisions will be by a majority. Armaments.—Tho Council will formulate plans for the reduction of armaments for i-on.sidora.tion and adoption. These plans will be revised every 10 years. Once they are adopted no member must exceed tho aimameuls fixed without the concurrence of theCoauoil ■ All members will exchange full information as to ariuanienU and programmes, and the permanent. Comtnusion will advise the council on milituiy and naval questions. PREVENTION OF WAIL Upon any war or throat ot war the Council will meet and consider what common action they shall take. Members- are pledged *-o .submit matters in dispute to an arbitration inquiry, and not to resort, to war until three months ail-er the award. Members ngre« U> carry out, an arbitral award and "not yo to war with any party to the dispute which complies with it. If a member fails to carry cm the award the Council will propose the necessary measures. The Council will formulate plans for the establishment of a Permanent Court of International .lu.-i.ne to pde.tonni.no international disputes or -~ive advisory opinions. Member- wh> d<> not. submit their eases to arbitration must accopt the jurisdiction of ihe Council or Assembly. It the Council, les's the parties to the dispute, are tnminmouslv agreed rrpo-n the rights, or it members a,gree that they will not (<-o to way with any party to the dkpute which eom])iies with its recommendations, in this easo tiro recommendations by tho Assembly are concurred in by all ifs memoers represented on the Council, and a simple majority of the rest, less the parties to the dispute," will have the force of a unanimous recommendation by the Council. In either ease, if the necessary agreement cannot bo soem-ed, member* reserve ■the right to take such action as may lie iioeeaßory for the maintenance of Light ■and Jut lice. Members resonin;: to war in disregard of tho covenant will immediately be debarred from all intercourse with other mem biers. Tho Council will, in such cases, consider what military or naval action can bo talven by the League colkotively for the protection of jt-s covenants, and will afford 1 aci!ities to members cooperating in. this, enterprise. VALiDrrr of treaties. Ail treaties of international engagements concluded after the institution of the League v/ill bo registered with the seeiotariat/and published. The Assembly may from time' to tim-o advise members to reconsider the treaties which have becojne inapplicable or involve danger to peace. The eoveriant abrogates all obligations between . members inconsistent with its te.rm.-5, but nothing in it shall affect the validity of arbitration or regional under - standing, like the Monroe Doctrine, for securing -the maintenance of peace. MANDATORY SYSTEM. The tutelage of nations not ytt able to stand by themselves shall be enirusted to the advanced nations who are best iiitod to undertake it. The covenant recognises

<*Wp different etage* of development i»9&nng different kinds of mandates:— {aT Communities, like those belonging •p *&• Turkish Empire, which can bd pMorWonally recognised as. independent, enbjeci to the advice and assistance from tha mandatory, in whose selection they sfconld b* allowed a voice. Jfe? o(M»munities, like those of Central Afriay, to be administered by a mandatory ftnder conditions generally approved by members of the League, whera equal opportunities for trade will be allowed to members. Certain abuses, such as trade in slaves, arms, and liquor, will be prohibited, and the construction oi" military and naval bases and the introduction oi compulsory military training will bt disallowed. Ici Other communities, such as Southwest Africa and the South Pacific Islands, best administered under the laws of the mandatory as integral portions of its territory. In every case the mandatory Trill render an annual report, and the degree of its authority will be defined. GENERAL INTERNATIONAL PROVISIONS. Subject to and i* accordance -with the provision of the international conventions existing or hereafter to be agreed upon, memhers of the League will in general endeavor through the international organisation established by the Labor Convention to secure and maintain fair conditions or labor for the men, women, and children in their own countries and other countries. and undertake to secure just treatment ot native inhabitants of territories under their control. They will entrust the League with genemi supervision over the execution ot agreements for the- suppression of traffic ill women and children, etc., and control of trade in arms and ammunition with the countries in which control is They will make provision for freedom ot communications and transit and equitable treatment- for the commerce of all members of the League, with special reference to the necessities of the legions devastated during the war, and Will endeavor to take steps for the international prevention and control of disease. The international bureaux and commissions already established will be placed under the League, as will all those to be established in future. AMENDMENTS TO COVENANT. Amendments to the covenant will take effect when ratified by the Council and by a majority of the Assembly.