LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1919, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

OUTLINE OF THE DRAFT. f -. , THE PREAMBLE. Received Feb. 12, 8 pjn. Paris, Feb. 10. The League of Nations draft contains k preamble and a short series of articles, | Mch being amdee, precise, and remarkably free from diplomatic and legal rerbiagq. The preamble states that the league was founded for and aims at the promotion of international co-opuration In order to secure international peace tod security by the acceptance of obligations; not by resort to arm?, but by the firm establishment of understandings of international lav as the actual tule of conduct amongst governments, . tad by the maintenance of justice and Tacrapulous respect for all treaty obligations in the dealings of organised peoples with one another. THE CONTROLLING AUTHORITY. The conditions governing the actions •f the high contracting parties under the Covenant are then set out. They provide that the purposes of the high contracting •artiea are to be affected through the instrumentality of meetings of delefates known as the "body of delegates," *nd also by meeting, at more frequent Intervals, of the executive council which Consists of the representatives of the tJnited States, the British Empire, Trance, Italy, and Japan, with two reJresentatives of other States which are toembere of the league. These latter, being appointed by the body of delegates, Will work on such principles and methods fts the body of delegates directs, thus ♦h" latter are made the controlling Wity to this general extent. ihere has been a discussion whether the five Powers should have four or five lumbers, and the point has not yet been determined. . ADMTN9TRATIVE PROVISIONS. Meetings of the executive will be held from time to time as occasion requires, fcnt at least once a year, either at the •eat of the leagu* or at another place. JLt these meeting* any nutter within the sphere of the league's actions, or effecting the peace of the world, may be dealt with. It has been agreed that the tret meeting of the body of delegates and attentive will be summoned by the President of the TJnited States, but it ahoujd be oltarly understood that the Proposal has not emanated from the United States. The commission has abandoned the term "secretary general" for the head •f the permanent secretariat for that or Chancellor of the League. This official •ill direct the secretariat, which will be established at the seat of the league. The secretariat's expenses will be shared ty the States which are members on the Mais of diftribution used for the expenses ef the International Bureau oi the UttJrefial Postal Union. Representatives of the high contracting parties and all the league's officials Will enjoy diplomatic privilege* and imtaunities. The league's buildings are to be re- - carded as extra-territorial. FUTURE ADMISSIONS. There ia likely to be a good deal of discussion respecting the provisions for the admission of nations which are not aigriatories of the covenant, including Germany. It is proposed that admission Will require the assent of not less than two-thirds of th* body of delegates, but to State will be admitted unless it agrees that its naval and military forces shall conform to the standard prescribed for <0 it from time to time by the league. Further provisioh provides that by a similar majority the league may impose upon any State seeking admission feuch eondrtf«ns as it thinks fit. Only eelf-governing States shall be admitted to raettberstip, but colonies enjoying full powers of self-government be admitted. REDUCTION OF ARMAMENTS. The draft proceeds to recognise the principle that the maintenance of peace tequires the reduction of national armajnents to the lowest point consistent with national safety, and the enforcement by oofflffiAn action of international obligation* The executive is to formulate plans fot effecting such reduction, also to determine what military equipment and armament is fair and reasonable in proportion to the scale of forces laid down in the process of disarmament These limits, when adopted, shall not be exceeded without the body of delegates' permission. An important proviso is that the high contracting parties agree that munitions and implements of war shall not be WSJlttfadtuted by private enterprise, and the egecttfre is to devise how the practice can be dispensed wfth. The parties further agree upon full and frank publicity as to national armaments, military and naval programmes. > ARBITRATION. The basis of arbitration is outlined. providing that if diplomacy or the executive's efforts fail to arrange a disjjtate, it must be referred to arbitration ijter three months' delay. It is proposed that this arbitration shall be generally undertaken by a permanent international court of justice, which will be established. The main weapon of the league will be, therefore, moral suasion, wtt eeonomic. military, and naval methods will not b» disregarded.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.