LEAGUE COVENANT

Southland Times, Issue 21090, 23 May 1930, Page 7

LEAGUE COVENANT

HARMONY WITH PEACE PACT.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

(British Official Wireless.) Rugby, May 21

Replying to Sir Austen Chamberlain in the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary’, Mr Henderson, said that the Government thought it desirable that the Covenant of the League of Nations should be amended so as to bring it into harmony with the Pact of Paris. The Government was of opinion, generally speaking, that the proposals of the League Committee on this matter were satisfactory, but it reservedthe right of making suggestions for modifying the details. .It was a matter for debate whether the obligations of the Government would be extended by the amendments. There might be a small technical extension, but he thought the amendments as a whole had the effect of making more remote the possibility of conflict. • THE NEW COVENANT The proposed changes in the Covenant of the League of Nations are being made because the Covenant as it, stands does not completely prohibit war between individual States. The Council of the League was asked to appoint a committee to draft a form of words giving effect to the Assembly's decision that the Covenant should be so altered as to leave no more loopholes than the Kellogg Pact does for war between States. . The actual changes it is proposed to make in the Covenant are shown in the following quotations:— OLD TEXT. NEW TEXT Preamble. Preamble. In order to pro- In order to promote international mote international co-operation and to co-operation and to achieve international achieve international peace and security peace and security by the acceptance of by accepting the obobligations not to re- ligation not to resort to war . . . sort to war. Article 12, Par. 1. Article 12, Par. 1. The Members of The Members of the League agree the League agree that if there should that if there should arise between them arise between them any dispute likely to any dispute likely to lead to a rupture lead to a rupture they will submit the they will only emmatter either to ar- ploy pacific means bitration or judicial for its settlement. If settlement or to in- the disagreement quiry by the Council, continues, the disand they agree in no pute shall be subcase to resort to war mitted either to aruntil three months bitration or judicial after the award by settlement or to inthe arbitrators or the quiry by the Counjudicial decision, of cil. The Members of the report by the the League agree Council. that they will in no case resort to war for the solution of their dispute. Article 13, Par. 4. Article 13, Par. 4. The Members of I The Members of the League agree the ' League agree that they will carry | that they will carry out in full good | out in full good faith any award or faith any award or decision that may be decision that may rendered, and that be rendered, and they will not resort that they will not to war against any take any action Member of the against any Member League that com- of the League which plies therewith. In complies therewith, the event of any fail-, In the event of any ure to carry out such failure to carry out an award or decis- such award or decision, the Council shall ion the Council shall propose what steps propose what measshould be taken to ures of all kinds give effect thereto. should be taken to give effect thereto; the votes of the representatives of the parties shall not be counted. Article 15, Par. 6. Article 15, Par. 6. If a report by the | If the report by the Council is unanim- 1 Council is unanimously agreed to by ously agreed to by the Members thereof the Members thereof other than the repre-. other than the re: sentatives of one or presentatives of one more of the parties or more of the parto the dispute, the ties to the dispute, Members of the the Members of the League agree that League agree that they will not go to they will comply war with any party with the recomto the dispute which mendations of the complies with the re- report. If the Councommendations of cii’s recommendation the report. is not carried out the Council shall propose suitable . measures to give it « effect. Article 15, Par. 7. Article 15, Par. 7. If the Council fails | . If the Council fails to reach a report to reach a report which is unanimous- which is unanimly agreed to by the ously agreed to by Members thereof, the Members thereof other than the repre- other than the resentatives of one or presentatives of one more of the parties or more of the parto the dispute, the ties to the dispute, Members of the it shall examine the League reserve to procedure best suitthemselves the right ed to meet the case to take such action and recommend it as they shall consid- to the parties, er necessary for the maintenance of right and justice. Paragraph 7a. Article 15, Par. 7a. This being an ad- At any stage of dition to the Coven- the examination the ant, there is no ex- Council may, either isting text corres- at the request of ponding Ro it. ° one of the parties or on its own initiative, ask the' Permanent Court of International Justice for an advisory opinion . - on points of law relating to the dispute. Such application shall not require a unanimous vote of the Councd.