THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1624, 29 April 1919, Page 11

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

DETAILS OF REVISED COVENANT. PROVIDING AGAINST FUTURE WARS. MACHINERY FOE JOINING AND LEAVING THE LEAGUE. By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. <A. k N.Z. k Reuter.) (Bee. April 29,1.25 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 27. The revised text of the Covenaut of the League of Nations, to be presented at the plenary session of the Peace Conference, is a lengthy document, consisting of 26 articles. It largely covers the ground already cabled. Article 1 provides that the original members of the League if Nations shall be the signatories to the Peace Treaty and also *ueh other States as shall accede without reservation to the Covenant. Such accessions shall be effected by a declaration deposited with the Secretariate within two months of its enforcement. The Covenant also provides for the admission to the League of any fully self-governing State, Dominion, or colony, if agreed to by two-thirds of the assembly, provided it gives guarantees of its sincere intention to observe the international obligations. Any members of the League may, after two years' notice, withdraw from the League, if all its obligations under the Covenant are fulfilled. Article 8, referring to the reduction of armaments, states that such plans will be subject to reconsideration and revision at least every 10 years, and limits the armaments, not to be exceeded without the concurrence of the Council. Article 12 provides that if a rupture arises between members of the League, war shall not be resorted to until three months after the Council has given its award on the question, and, if the Council is successful in settling the dispute, a settlement shall be made public giving the full terms of the settlement. If a settlement is not effected, the Council shall publish a statement of the facts of the dispute and the recommendations made by the Council. Members of the League must agree not to go to war with any party to a dispute which complies with the recommendations of the report. If the Council fails to reach a report unanimously agreed to by the members other than the parties to the dispute, the members of the League reserve the right to take any action considered necessary.