--Mr i
Ifettt
MOT
V
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DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OP BOONB; AND WATAUGA COUNTY.
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VOL. XXX.
BOONE WATAUGA COUNTt, N. C, THURSDAY MAY 8, 1919.
NO 30.
REVISED COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE OF
NATIONS JSJOW BEFORE CONFERENCE
Document Designed to Promote International Co-Operation and to Achieve Internation
al Peace and Security Without Resort to War.
For Clearer Understanding of International Law. The High Contracting Parties Agree
in this Covenant to Maintain a Scrupulous Respect for Ail Treaty Obligations
In all their Dealings With One Another.
' Washington. The state department
made public the text of the revised
covenant of the league of nations, as
it was presented to the plenary ses
sion of the peace conference at Paris.
The text follows, with parenthetical
insertions showing changes made in
the covenant as originally drafted and
made public:
Covenant of the League of Nations.
In order to promote international
co-operation and to achieve interna
tional peace and security, by the ac
ceptance of obligations not to resort
to war, by the prescription of open,
just and honorable relations between
nations, by the firm establishment of
the understandings of International
law as to actual rule of conduct among
governments, and1 by the maintenance
of justice and a scrupulous respect for
all treaty obligations in the dealings
of organized peoples with one another,
the high contracting parties agree to
this covenant of the league of nations.
(In the original preamble the last
sentence reads, "adopt this constitu
tion," instead of "agree to this cove
nant.") Article One.
The original members of the league
of nations shall be those of the slg-
natories which are named in the an
nex to this covenant and also such of
those other states named in the an
nex as shall accede without reserva
tion to this covenant. Such accession
shall be effected by a declaration de
posited with the secretariat within
two months of the coming into force
of the covenant. Notice thereof shall
be sent to all other members of the
league.
Any fully self-governing state, do
minion or colony not named in the an
nex may become a member of the
league of nations if its admission is
agreed to by two-thirds of the assem
bly, provided that it shall give effec
tive guarantees of lt3 sincere inten
tion to observe its international obli
gations, and shall accept such regula
tions as may be prescribed by the
league in regard to its military and
naval forces and armaments.
Any member of the league, may,
after two years notice of its intention
so to do, withdraw from the league,
provided that all its international obli
gations and all its obligations under
this covenant shall have been fulfilled
et the time of its withdrawal.
(This article is new. ombodyin
with alterations and additions the old
article seven. It provides more spe
cifically the method of admitting new
members and adds the entirely new
paragraph providing for withdrawal
from the league. No mention of with
drawal was made in the original docu
ment.) Article Two.
The action of the league under this
covenant shall be effected through
the instrumentality of an assembly
and of a council, with a permanent
secretariat
(Originally this was a part of ar
ticle one. It gives the name assem
bly to the gathering of representa
tives of the members of the league,
formerly referred to merely as "the
body of delegates.")
Article Three.
The assembly shall consist of rep
resentatives of the members of the
league.
The assembly shall meet at stated
Intervals and from time to time aa
occasion may require, at the seat of
the league, or at such other place as
may be decided upon.
The assembly may deal at its meet
ings with any matter within the
sphere of action of the league or af
fecting the peace of the world.
' At meetings of the assembly, each
member of the league shall have one
Tote, and may have not more than
three representatives.
(This embodies parts of the orig
inal article one, two and three with
only minor changes. .It refers to
"members 6f the loague" where the
term 'high contracting parties" orig
inal1"' was used, and this change is
follCed throughout the revised draft.)
Article Four.
The council shall consist of repre-l
sentatlves of the United States of
America, of the British empire, of
France, of Italy and of Japan, together
with representatives of four other
members of the league. These tour
members of the league shall be select
ed by the assembly from time to time
m its discretion. Until the appoint
ment of the representatives of the
four members of the league first se
lected by' the assembly, representa
tives of (Wank) shall be members of
the council. .
i W'th approval of the majority of
the assembly, the council may name
, actional members of the league
reprosentatlvea shall always be
.members of the council; the council
.With lk approval may increase, the
number of members of the league to
be selected by the assembly for rep
resentation on the council.
The council shall meet from time
to time as occasion may require and
at least once a year, at the seat of
the league, or at such other place as
may be decided upon.
The council may deal at its meet
ings with any matter within the
sphere of action of the league or af
fecting the peace of the world.
Any member of the league not rep
resented on the council shall be in
vited to send a representative to sit
as a member at any meeting of the
council during the consideration of
matters specifically affecting the In
terests of that member of the league.
At meetings of the council, each
member of the league represented on
the council shall have one vote, and
may have not more than one repres
entative. ,
(This embodies that -part of the
original article three designating the
original members of the council. The
paragraph providing for increase in
the membership of the council is new.)
Article Five.
Except where otherwise expressly
provided in this covenant, decision?,
at any meeting of the assembly or of
the council shall require the agree
ment of all the members of the league
represented at the meeting.
All matters of procedure at meet
ings of the assembly or of the council,
the appointment of committees to In
vestigate particular matters shall be
regulated by the assembly or' by the
council and may be decided by a ma
jority of the members of the league
represented at the meeting.
The first meeting of the assemblv
and the first meeting at the council
shall be summoned by the President
of the United States of America.
(The first paragraph requiring un
animous agreement In both assembly
and council except where otherwise
provided Is new. The other two para
graphs originally were Included in
article four.)
Article Six,
The permanent secretariat shall he
established at the scat of the league
The secretariat shall comprise a sec
retariat general and such secretaries
and staff as may be required
The first secretary general shall be
the person named in the annex; there
after the secretary general shall be
appointed by the council with the ap
proval of the majority of the assembly
The secretaries and the stuff of the
secretariat shall be appointed by the
secretary general with the approval
of the council.
The secretary general shall act in
that capacity at all meetings of the as
sembly and of the council.
The expenses of the secretariat shall
be borne by the members of the league
in accordance with the apportion
ment of the expenses of the interna
tlonal bureau of universal postal
union.
(This replaces the original article
five: In the original the appointment
of the first secretary general was left
to the council, and approval of the
majority of the assembly was not re
quired for subsequent appointments.)
Article Seven.
The seat of the league is establish
ed at Geneva.
The council may at any time decide
that the seat of the league shall be
established elsewhere.
All positions under or In connection
with the league, including the secre
tarlat, shall be open equafly to men
and women.
Representatives of the members of
the league and officials of the league
when engaged on the business of the
league shall enjoy diplomatic privi
leges and immunities.
The building and other pronerty oc
eupled by the league or Its officials or
by representatives attending its meet
Ings shall be inviolable. .
(Embodying parts of the old er
tides five and six, this article nar.ir
Geneva Instead of leaving the seat of
the league to be chosen later, oryl
adds the provision for changing the
seat in the future. The paragrnnn
opening position to women equally
with men is new).
Article Eight.
The members of the' league recog
nise that the maintenance of a peace
requires the reduction of national
.om.n tn thA lnwest nolnt cons at-
Cl UIwiuvm -- - a
ent with national safety and the en
forcement by common action of Inter
national obligation.
The council, taking account of thr
geographical situation and circum
stances of each state, shall formulate
plans for such reduction for the con
sideration and action of the several
governments.
Such r'.ans shall be. subpect to re
consideration and revision at .leait
raw 10 years.
After tnese plans shall have bean
adopted by the several governments,
limits of armaments therein fixed
shall not be exceeded without the
concurrence of the council.
The members of the league agree
that the manufacture by private en
terprise of munitions and implements
of war is open to grave objections.
The council shall advise how the evil
effects attendant upon such manufac
ture can be prevented, due regard be
ing had to the necessities of those
which are not able to manufacture
the munitions and implements of war
necessary for their safety.
The members of the league under
take to interchange full and frank in
formation as to the scale of their
armaments, their military and naval
programs and the condition of such
of their industries as are adaptable to
warlike purposes.
(This covers the ground of the
original article eight, but is rewrit
ten to make it clearer that armament
reduction plans must be adopted by
the nations affected before they be
come effective).
Article Nine.
A permanent commission shall be
constituted to advise the council on
the expectation of the provisions of
articles one and eight and on military
and naval questions generally.
(Unchanged except for the inser
tion of the words "article one").-
Article Ten.
The members of the league under
take to respect and preserve as
against external aggression the ter
ritorial Integrity and existing political
independence of all members of the
league. In case of any such aggres
sion, or in case of any threat or dan
ger of such aggression, t!V council
shall advise npon the means by which
thin obligation shall be fulfilled.
(Virtually unchanged).
Article Eleven.
Any war. or threat of war, whether
Immediately affecting any of the
members of the league or not, is
hereby declared a matter of concern
to the whole league, and the league
shall take any action that may be
deemed wise and effectual to safe
guard the peace of nations. In case
any such emergencies should arise,
the secretary general shall on the re-
request of any member of the league,
forthwith summon a meeting of tbe
council.
It is also declared to be the funda
mental right of each member of the
league to bring to the attention of the
assembly or of the council any cir
cumstances whatever affecting inter
national relations which threatens to
disturb either the peace or the good
understanding) between nations upon
which peace depends.
(In the original it was provided
that the "high contracting parties re
serve the right to take any action,"
etc., where the revised draft reads
"the league shall take any action,
etc.)
, Article Twelve.
The members of the league agree
that, if there should arise between
them any dispute likely to lead to a
rupture, they will submit the matter
either to arbitration or to inquiry by
the council, and they agree in no case
to resort to war until three months
after the award by the arbitrators or
the report of the council.
In any case under this article the
award of the arbitrators shall be
made with in a reasonable time, and
the report of the council shall be
made within a reasonable time, anu
submission of the dispute.
f (Virtually unchanged except that
some provisions of the original are
eliminated for Inclusion in other ar
ticles).
Article Thirteen.
The members of the league agree
that whnever any dispute shall arise
between them which they recognize
to be suitable for submission to arty
tratlon and 'which cannot be eatlafae
torily settled by diplomacy, they will
submit the whole subject matter tc
arbitration. Disputes as to the Inter
pretation of a treaty, as to any ques
tion of international law, as to the
existence of any fact which Is estab
lished would constitute a breach o'
any. International obligation, or as tc
the extent and nature of the repara
tion to be made for any such breach
the declared to be among those which
are generally suitable for submission
to arbitration. For the conslderatlop
of any such dispute the court of arbi
tratlon to which the case is referred
shall be the court agreed on by the
parties to the dispute or stipulated In
any convention existing between them
The member of ttie league acree
that Uiey will carry out In full good
faith any award that may be rendered
and that they will not resort to war
against a member of the league which
j complies therewith. In the event of
any laiiure u carry oui euon u
any failure to carry out such
award tbe council shall propose what
steps should be taken to givs effect
thereto.
(Only minor changes in language.)
Article Fourteen,
The council shall formulate and
submit to the members of tbe league
for adoption plans for the estab
lishment of a permanent court of inter
national justice. The court shall be
competent to hear and determine any
dlsjjute, of aa intentional character
hlch the partios thereto submit to
The court may also give an ad
visory opinion upon any disputo or
question referred to it by the council
or by tbe assembly.
(Unchanged except for the addition
of the last sentence.)
Article Fifteen.
If there should arise between
members of the leaguo any disputo
likely to lead to a rupture, which Is
no(' rot.iulUsd tc- arMtritlop aa above,
he members of the league sgr?"
that they will submit the matter to
the council. Any party to the dis
pute may effect such submission by
jiving notice of the existence of the
dispute to the secertury general, who
will make all necessary arrangements
for a full investigation and considera
tion thereof. For this purpose the
parties to the dispute will communi
cate to the secretary general aa
promptly as possible, statments of
their case, all the relevant facts and
purposes. The council may forth
with direct the publication thereof.
The council shall endeavor to ef
fect a settlement of any dispute, and
If such efforts are successful, a state
ment ahall be made puljic giving
sikh facts and explanations regarding
the dispute, terms of settlement
thereof, as the council may deem ap
propriate.
It the dispute 4s not thus settled,
the council either unanimously or by
majority vote shall make and pub
lish a report containing a statement
of the facts of the dispute u.id the
recommendations which are deerc.-ed
ust and proper In regard thereto.
Any member of the league repre
sented on the council may make pub
lic a statement of the facts of the
llspute and of its conclusions regard
ing the same.
If a report by the council is unani
mously agreed to by the members
thereof other than the representatives
af one or more of the parties to the
dispute, the members of the league
agree that (hey will not go to war
with any party to the dispute which
complies with the recommendations of
the report.
If the council fails to reach a re
port which is unanimously agreed t.
by the members thereof, other than
the representatives of one or more
of the parties to the dispute, the
members of the league reserve to
themselves the right to take such ac
Ion as they shall consider necessary
for the malntenace of right and Jus
tice. If tVo dispute between the parties
s claimed by one of them, and is
found by the council, to arise out ot
i matter which by International law
Is solely within the domestic Jurisdic
tion of the party, the council shall so
eport, and shall make no recommen-
iatlons as to its settlement.
The council may In any case under
his article refer the dispute to the
issembly. The dispute shall be so re
ferred at the reqjiest of either party
'.o the dispute, provided that such re
litest be made within 14 days after
he submission of the dispute to the
touncil.
In any case referred to the assem-
)ly all the provisions of this article
ind of article 12 relating to the action
tnd powers of the council shall apply
o .the action and powers of the as-
tembly, provided that a report made
y the assembly, ,lf concurred in by
he representatives of those members
f the league represented on the coun
:ll and of a majority ot the other
nembers of the league, exclusive In
tach case of the representatives of
he parties to the dispute, shall have
he same force as a report by the
touncil concurred In by all the mom
ters thereof other than the repress
atlves of one or more of the parties
o the dispute.
(The paragraph sneclflcally exolud
ng matters ot ."domestic Jurlsdic
Ion" from action by the council Is
ew. In the last, sentence, the word"
'If concurred in by the renrntn
Ives of those members of tbe leigue
epreeted on the council," etc., have
teen added).
Article Sixteen.
Should any member of the league
esort to war in disregard of its cove
lints under urMcles 12, 13 or 15, It
ihall lnso facto be deeenrd to have
tommitted an act. of war agaln.it all
ther members of the lcnfrue, which
.hereby undertake lmmedlatrW to
mblect It to the severance of nil trade
r financial relations, the prohibition
)f all Intercourse betwesn their nn
Ions and the nitlon'ls pf the coven
mt-breaklng stnte and the preventlor
if all financial-. commrcial fir per
lonal intercourse hetveen the rw
'.ions of the covenant breaking state
ind the nations of arty other state
whether a member of tie league or
not
It shall be the duty of the council
In such cases to recommend to the
leveral governments concerned' what
effective military or naval forces the
members ot the league shall severally
contribute to the armaments of forcer
to be used to protect the covenant of
the league.
The members ot the league agre
further, thit they will mutually sup
tort one another In the financial and
3conom!c measures which are tp.ken
under this article, In order to mini
mize the loss and inconvenience re
sulting from the above measures, and
that they will mutually support one
another In resisting any special meas
ures aimed at one of their number by
the covenant breaking state and that
they will take the necessary steps to
afford passage through their territory
to the forces of any of the members
of the league which are co-operating
to protect the covenants of the
league.
Any member of the lpague which
violated any covenant of the league
may be decided to he no longer a
member of the league by a vote fo the
council concurred in by the represen
titlves of all the other members of
the lengue represented thereon.
(ITnchnnged except for the addition
of the last sentence.) '
Article Seventeen.
In the event of a dispute between
a member of the league and a state
which is not a member of the league
or bfeLv.den states not members of the
league, the state or states not mem
bers of the league shall be invited to
tccept tbe obligations ot membership
a the league for the purposes ot such
llspute, upon such conditions an the
wuncil may deem just. If such invi
latum is accepted, the provisions ot
trticles 12 to 16 Inclusive shall bo ap
plied with such modifications as may
)e deemed necessary by the council.
Upon such invitation being given,
;he council shall Immediately institute
in inquiry into the circumstances of
Jie dispute and recommend such ac
tion as may seem best and most ef
fectual in the circumstances.
It a state so invited shall refuse to
iccept the obligations of mmber
jhlp In the league tor the' pur
pose of such dispute, and shall resort
'.o war against a member of the
league, the provisions of article' 16
mall be applicable is against the
itate taking such action.
If both parties to tbe dispute, when
to invited refuse to accept the obliga
tions of membership in the league for
he purposes of such dispute, the
".ouncil may take such measures and
nako such recommendations as will
prevent hostilities and will result in
.he settlement of the dispute.
(Virtually unchanged.)
Article Eighteen.
Every convention or international
engagement entered into hencefor
ft'ard by any member of the league
shall bo forthwith registered with tbe
secretariat and shall as soon as
igainst the state taking such ac
such treaty or international engage
ment tihull be binding until so regis
tered.
(Same as original Article 23. )
Article Nineteen.
The assembly may from time to.
time advise tho reconsideration by
members of the loague of treaties
which have become Inapplicable and
the consideration ot international con
ditions whose continuance might en
danger the peace of the world.
(Virtually the same as original Ar
ticle 24.)
Article Twenty.
The members of the league several
ly agree that this covenant Is accept
ed as abrogating all obligations or
understandings inter se which are In
consistent with the terras thereof, and
solemifly undertake that they will not
hereafter enter into any agreements
Inconsistent with the terms thereof.
In case members of the league shall,
before becoming members of the
league- have undertaken any obliga
tions Inconsistent with the terms of
the covenant, it shall be the duty of
each member to take Immediate steps
to procure its release from such
obligations.
(Virtually the same as original Ar
ticle 25.)
Article Twenty-one.
Nothing in this covenant shall be
loemed to affect the validity of inter
national engagements such as treat
es of arbitrations or regional under
standings like the Monroe doctrine
for securing tbe maintenance ot
peace
(Entirely new.)
Article Twenty-two.
To those colonle and territories
which as a consequence of the late
war have ceased to be under the sov
ereignty of the states which formerly
governed them and whicb are inhab
ited by peoples not yet able to stand
by themselves under the strenuous
conditions of the modern world, there
should be applied the principle that
the wellbeing and well development
of such peoples formed a sacred trust
of Civilization and that securities for
the performance of this trust should
be embodied In this covenant.
The best method of giving practi
cable effect to this principle Is that
the tuteluge of such peoples be en
trusted to advanced nations who, by
reasons of their resources, their ex
perience or their geographical posi
tion, can best undertake responsibil
Ity, and which are willing to accept It,
and that this tutelage should be ex
erclsed by them as mandatories on be
halt of the league. ,
The character of the mandate must
differ according to the stage ot the
development of the people, tbe geo-
gtaphical situation ot the territory,
lta economic condition and any other
similar circumstances.
Certain communities formerly be
longing to the Turkish empire have
reached a stage of development where
their existence as Independent nations
can be provisionally recognized sub
ject to the rendering of administra
tive advice and assistance by a man
datory until such time ns they are
able to stand alono. The wishes of
these communities must be a princi
pal consideration in the selection of
the mandatory.
Other peoples, erpaclally those of
Central Africa, are at such a state
that the mandatory must be responsi
ble for the administration of tho ter
ritory under conditions which will
guarantee 'freedom and conscience or
religion subject only to tbe mainte
nance of public order and morals, the
prohibition of abuses, such as the
slave trade, the arms traffic and the
liquor traffic and the prevention of
the establishment of fortifications or
military and naval bases and military ,
training of tbe nations for other than
policy purposes and tbe defense of
territory and will also secure equal
opportunities for tbe trade and com
merce of other members of the
league.
There are territories, such as South
west Africa, and certain of the South -Pacific
Islands, which, owing to tbe
sparseness of their population or their
small size or their remoteness from
the centers of civlUtatlon or their
geographical contiguity to the terri
tory oh the mandatory and other cir
cumstances, can be best administered
nader tbe laws of the mandatory as
integral portions of its territory sub
ject to the safeguards above mention
ed in the interests of the indigenous'
population. In every case of mandate
the mandatory shall render to the
council an annual report in reference
to the, territory committed to ita
charge.
The degree of authority, contrcJ or
administration to be exercised by the
mandatory shall, if not previously
agreed upon by the members of the
league, be explicitly defined in each
case by the council.
A permanent commission shall be
constituted to receive and examine :
the annual reports of the mandatories
and to advise the council on all mat
ters relating to tbe observance ot the
mandates.
(This is the original Article 19, vir
tually unchanged except for the In
sertion of the words "and which are
willing to accept" in describing na
tions to be given mandatories.)
Article Twenty-three.
Subject to and In accordance with
the provisions of international con
ventions existing or hereafter to be
agreed upon the members - ot the
league (a) will endeavor to secure
and maintain fair and humane condi
tions of labor for men, women and
children, both in their own countries
and in all countries to which' their
commercial and industrial relations
extend, and for that purpose will es
tablish and maintain the necessary in
ternational organizations; (b) under
take to secure just treatment of the
native Inhabitants of territories un
der their control; (c) will entrust the
league with the general supervision
over the execution of agreements
with regard to the traffic In women
and children, and the traffic in opium
and other dangerous drugs; (d) will
entrust the league with the general
supervision ot the trade In arms and
ammunition with the countries in
which the- control of this traffic is
necessary In the common interests;
(e) will make provision to secure and
maintain freedom of communication
and of transit and of equitable treat
ment for the commerce of all mem
bers of the league. In this connec
tion, especial necessities ot the re
gions devastated during the war of
1914-1918 shall be In mind; (f) will
endeavor to take steps tn matters of
International concern for the preven
tion and control of disease. 1
(This replaces the original article
30 and embodies parts of the original
Articles 18 and 21, It eliminates a
specific provision formerly made for
a bureau of labor and adds tho clauses
(b) and (c).
Article Twenty-four.)
There shall be placed under the di
rection of the leSgue all International
bureaus already established by gen
eral treaties if the parties to such
treaties consent All such Interna
tional bureaus and all commissions
for the regulation of matters of Inter
national Interest hereafter constitut
ed shall be placed under the direction
of the league.
Tn all matters of international in
terest which are regulated by general
conventions, but which are not placed
under the control of international bu
reaus or commissions, the secretariat
of the league shall, subject to the con
sent of the council, and if desired by
the parties, collect and distribute all
relevant Information and shall render
any other assistance which may be
necessary or desirable.
The council may Include as part of
the expenses ot the secretariat the
expenses of any bureau or commis
sion which Is placed under the direc
tion of the league. '
(Continued on fourth page.)
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