LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 17 February 1919, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

SOME OF THE ARTICLES

COMMON ACTION TO ENFORCE NATIONAL OBLIGATIONS.

PEACE SAFEGUARDED BY ARBI-

TRATION

FUTURE TREATIES TO BE

PUBLISHED

BY CABLE—PBBSB ASSOCIATION—COPYB.IGHT

4 LONDON, Feb; 14. Tttj» League of Nations Covenant opening articles declare that the action of the covenanting parties shall be ef-

f fecteds through, meetings of repreaenta- ' tive dfelegates, at' stated intervals, at the «eafc of the league or elsewhere, and through meetings of the executive council, and the permanent international secretariat,, at. the seat of the league, at more frequent intervale, eacß contracting party at a meeting of delegates t<r have one vote, but no mor© than three representaiSves. The executive council shall consist of representatives of the British Empire, 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 6eat of the league or elsewhere. Any matter within the sphere of action of the league, or affecting the world's peaces 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 to b« binding unless such invitation is extended. The President of the United States shall summon the first meeting of representative delegates and executive council. Article 8 states that the high contracting parties have recognised the principle that the maintenance of peace requires the reduction of national armaments .to the lowest point' consistent with national safety, and1 the enforcement, by cdtnmon action, of international obligations, having especial re-p-ard to the geographical situation and the circumstances of each State, and the executive council shall' formulate pla^s effecting such reduction. A -ticle 12 says the high contracting parties reserve the right to take such action as may be deemed wise 'and effectual to safeguard the peace of each. The high contracting: parties are entitled to draw the league's attention ■to circumstances likely to affect international peace, or the good understanding on which fceace depends. The high contracting parties agree in no case to resort to war without previously submitting unadjustable disputes to arbitration or inquiry by the executive council, and until three months after 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 a recommendation that the award of arbitrators shall be made within a reasonable time, and the executive council's recommendation within six months after the isubmission of the dispute. The courts of arbitration shall be a court agreed upon by the disputants. The High" contracting parties agree to carry out !in full good faith any award If any of the high contracting parties break or disregard the covenants under article 12, it is, ipso facto, deemed to have committed an act of war against all the other nations of the league, which hereby! undertake" tb immediately subject it to the severance of all trade and' financial relations, and to prohibit all intercourse between thefir nationals and- the nationals of the covenantbreaking State; also the- prevention of all financial, commercial' and personaJ intercourse between the nationals of the. covenant-breaking State and the nationals of any other State, whether 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, such armed force to be used 7 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 it is laid down that the league is entrixsted with a general supervision of the trade in arms and ammunition in the countries in which "ite control' of this traffic is neces«a,ry. Article 19 deals with the 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 nf the modern world. Principles should, be applied? that the well-being and development of such peoples form a sacred trust of civilisation, and securities for the performance 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 the advanced nations, who, by reason of their resources, experience and n-eographical position* can best undertake this responsibility. ■( The wishes of these communities must be a principal consideration in the selection of the mandatory There are territorials such, as Southwest Africa andl certain of the South Pacific Islands, which, owing to the sparseness of population, or their small size, or to remoteness from the centre 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 safeguard mentioned above. Article 20 states that.,the high contracting parties shall endeavor to secure and maintain fair and human conditions of labor for men, women and children,: in their own and in all other countries whereto their commercial and industrial relations extend, and agree to establishas part of the organisation of the league a permanent labor bureau. No treaty or international engagement hereafter entered into by- members of the league shall be binding until registered with the secretariat "of the league, who shall publish it as soon as possible. The high contracting parties accept the present covenant as an ji^rn-otion of all obligations inter se which are inconsistent with the terms thereof. Article 26 provides for the effectiveness of amendments to a covenant when ratified by the State whose representatives compose the executive council, and by three-fourths of the States whose representatives compose the body of delegates.—Aus.-N.Z. C.A. and Renter.