LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 184, 30 April 1919, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

NEW DRAFT ADOPTED

GERMAN DELEGATES IN

PARIS ITALY STILL "OUT" By Teli--;;roi)h--PrcS:) AESoelation-OopyfijJfii Paris, April 28. The plenary session of the Peace Conference is considering the League of Nations covenant, and particularly Japan's claim for the insertion of recognition..of tho racial .equality provision. The. original members of the League will I>9 thoso Allied nations whfcli 6ign the Poaee Treaty. There will be tlnrty-two of these, tho British Dominions being- counted as separate members. Thirteen neutral nations will be.invited to join. Tie most notable amendment of the covenant,_ of which the revised text has lieen published, expressly states that the Monroe Doctrine and international engagements designed for the maintaining of peace shall remain, valid. The League will reconsider treaties which might endanger the world's peace. All the decisions of the League must bo unanimous, except when it is specifically provided that they may be otherwise.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Later. The, revised ijovenant has been adopted officially without amendment.—Aus,N.Z. Cable Asm. , SPEECH BY PRESIDENT WILSON APPEAL TO'THE -FREE NATIONS. • (Reo. April 29, 9.5 p.m.) Paris, April 28. President Wilson, in a speech, moved the adoption of tho Leaguo of Nations covenant. He hoped the free nations of the world would maintain justice in their international relations. The Japanese claims for racial equality liavo been withdrawn, and will be submitted to the .League later. The emmciatory principles of the Labour Chartor liavo been inserted in (ho Peace Treaty.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE REVISED TEXT Now- York, 'April 27. The revised text is a lengthy document, consisting of twenty-six articles. It largely covers tho ground described in previous messages. • Article I provides that the original members of tho League of Nations shall bo those who are signatories, and also such other States as shall accede without reservation to the covenant. Such accessions shall bo .effected by a declaration deposited with, tho secretariat within two months of the enforcement of tho covenant. The covenant also provides for tho admission to the League of auy fully self-governing Stale, Dominion, or colouy, if this is agreed to by two-thirds of .tho Assembly, provided tho State gives guarantees of its sincere intention* to observe its international obligations. Any members of tho League may, after two years' notice, withdraw from the League, if all its obligations under the covenant l.avo (been fulfilled.

Article VIII, referring to the reduction of armaments, states that such plana shall be subject- to reconsideration and revision at least every ten years, and that the limits of armaments'shall not bo exceeded without the concurrence ot tho Council.

Article XII provides that if a rupturo should arise between members of .the League, war shall not be resorted to until three months after the Council has given its award on tho question, and if tho Council is successful in settling tho dispute a.statement shall be made public giving' the full terms of the settlement. If a settlement is not effected tile Council shall publish a statement of the facts in dispute, and of tho recommendations made by tho Council, tho members of the League agreeing not to go to war with any' party to the dispute which complies with the recommendations of tho report. If tho Council fails to reach a report unanimously agreed to by members other than tho parties to the dispute the members of tho League may reserve tho right to take action which is considered necessary. Article XXII provides that for those colonies and territories which in consequence'of the late win - will not lie under tho sovereignty of tho States formerly governing them, and which aro inhabited by'peoples unable to stand by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world, there shall bo applied tho principle that the woll-bcingl and development of such peopies shall form a sacred trust of civilisation and the securities for the performance of this trust shall be embodied in the covenant. This is provided for by tho mandatories dn the part of tho League. The mandatories are to differ according to the stage of development of the peoplo of the geographical situation, tho economic condition, and other similar circumstances. The article mentions certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish Elll- - nnil other peoples of Central Africa, South-West Africa, and certain of tho South' Pacific Islands. Where the mandates are required, in every case the mandatory shall render to the Council an annual report in reference to the territory committed to its charge. The degree of 'authority, control, or administration shall, if not previously agreed upon by members of the League, be explicitly dofciided. A permanent commission sha'i) be constituted to examine tho reports oj the mandatories and advise the Council on all matters relating to the. observance of the mandates.

Article XXIII states that, subject to and in accordance /with the provisions of international, conventions existing or hereafter agreed upon, members of tho League shall endeavour to secure an« maintain fair, humans conditions of labour'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 they will establish and maintain the necessary international organisations. Provision shall bo made to secure and maintain freedom of end transit and equitable treatment for commerce for all the members of the League, also the prevention and control of disease shall bo made a matter of international concern.

Article XXV provides for the encouragement, promotion, and establishment of national Red Cross organisations. . - Article XXVI provides that the amendments to the covenant take effect when ratified by the Council of the League. The following original members of (lie League of Nations are signatories of-the Treaty of Peace: United States of America, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, British Empire, Canada, Australia, Smith Africa, New Zealand, Tndia. China, Cuba, Owli-o-Slovakin, Ecuador. France. Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Heinz, Honduras, Italy. Japan. Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama. Peru. Poland. Portugal, Rumania, Serbia, Siain, anil Uruguay. States invited to nccedp to the covenant, aro: Argentine Republic, Chili, Columbia, Denmark. tho Netherlands, Norway; Salvador, Snain, Sweden. Switzerland, Vene-7,ula—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. >

POINTS OF THE NEW DRAFT (Ree. April 29, 10.35 p.m.) London, April 2!). It is pointed out that the redrafted covenant provides for tlie admission of Germany and "Russia to the Council when they are established as great Powers and when they can bo trusted to honour (heir oblipations. The effect of the article admitting a small State to sit nn'the Council when its alYairs are intimutelv involved amounts to an effective veto, as the Council's decisions must he unanimous. The draft clenrs up doubls reaardjn!,' disarmament. There will be no dictation as lo the R'7n (if the national forces. Tho Council will merely formulate plans which tho Governments may accept or reiect and which will be the bnsis of a subsequent disarmament convention. The article punranteeinf! territorial integrity emphasises the point that the League cannot lis used to suppress internal movements. Its function merely is to prevent 1 forcible annexation Tn default of a strong inlcrnational force, ready for immediate action, memi bers of the League must make their own

arrangements for self-defence. The Covenant encourages defensive conventions between States, nnd regards them as guarantees of the world's peace, but treaties must be public.—A us.-N.Z. Cable Assn

PROPOSED BRITISH MISSION. (Rec. April 30, 0.5 a.m.) London, April 28. The Government i? considering a propdsal to 6end a special mission to Egypt with Lord' Milnor at its head to report to tho Home Government on questions concerning the constitution cf tho protectorate. It i 6 not yot decided, however, whether Lord Milner will go—Routor,