LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1919, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

DETAILS OF COVENANTS. METHOD OF ACTION. Received Feb. 10, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 14. The League of Nations Covenant opening articles declare that the action of the covenanting parties shall be effected through meetings of representative delegates, at stated intervals, at the seat of the league or elsewhere, and through meetings of the executive council, and the permanent international secretariat, at the seat of the league, at more frequent intervals, each contracting party at a meeting of delegates to have one. vote, but no more than three representatives. The executive council shall consist of representatives of the British Empire, United States, France, Italy, Japan and four other States selected "by the delegates. A council meeting shall be held at least once annually, at the seat of the league or elsewhere. Any matter within the sphere of action of the league, or affecting the world's peace, may be dealt with at such meetings. Invitations shall be sent to any Power to attend a council meeting at which matters directly affecting its interests are to be discussed, no decision to be binding unless such invitation is extended. The President of the United States shall summon the first ■meeting of representative delegates and executive council. REDUCTION OF ARMAMENTS. Article 8 states that the high contract, ing parties have recognised the principle that the maintenance of peace requires the reduction of national armaments to the lowest point consistent with national safety, and the enforcement, by common action, of international obligations, having especial regard to the geographical situation and the circumstances of each State, and the executive council shall formulate plans effecting such reduction. SAFEGUARDING PEACE. Article 12 saya the high contracting parties reserve the right to take such action as may be deemed wise and effectual to safeguard the peace of each. The high contracting parties are entitled to draw the league's attention to circumstances likely to affect international peace, or the good understanding on which peace depends. The high contracting parties agree in no ease to resort to war without previously submitting unadjustable disputes to arbitration or inquiry by the executive council, and until three months after award by the arbitrators, or a recommendation by the executive council, and will not even then resort to war against a member of the league which complies with such award, or a recommendation that the award of the arbitrators shall be made within a reasonable time, and the executive council's recommendation within six months after the submission of the dispute. The court of arbitration shall be a court agreed upon by the disputants. The high contracting parties agree to carry out in full good faith any award. If any of the high contracting parties break or disregard the covenants under article 12, it is, ipso facto, deemed to have committed an act of war against all the other nations of the league, which hereby undertake to immediately subject ■it to the severance of all trade and financial relations, and to prohibit all intercourse between their nationals and the nationals of the covenant-breaking State; also the prevention of all financial, commercial and personal intercourse between the nationals of the covenant-breaking State and the nationals of any other State, whether member of the leasue or not. b ARMED FORCE TO PROTECT COVENANTS. It shall be the executive council's duty to recommend what effective military or naval force the members of the lcauue shall severally contribute, such armed force to be used to protect the league'* covenants. The high contracting parties agree to mutually support one another in financial and economic measures under this article. SUPERVISION OF TRADE IN ARMS. In order to minimise resultant loss and inconvenience it is laid down that the league is entrusted with u general supervision of the trade in arms and ammunition in the countries in which the control of this traffic is necessary. CONQUERED TERRITORY. Article 19 deals with the colonies and territories which, in consequence of the late war, ceased to be under the sovereignty of the State formerly governing them, and which are inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world. Principles should be applied that the well-being and development of such peoples form a sacred trust of civilisation, and securities for the performance of this trust should be embodied in the league's constitution. The best method of giving practical effect to this principle is that the tutelage of such peoples should bo entrusted to the advanced nations, who, by reason of their resources, experience 'and geographical position, can best undertake this responsibility. The wishes of these communities must be a principal consideration in the selection of the mandatory. There are territorials such as Southwest Africa and certain of the South Pacific islands, which, owing to the sparseness of population, or their small size, or to remoteness from the centre of civilisation, or geographical continuity to the mandatory State, or other "circumstances, can best be administered under the laws of the mandatory State as integral portions thereof, subject to the safeguard mentioned above. FAIR AND HUMANE LABOR CONDITIONS. Article 20 states that the high contracting parties shall endeavor to secure and maintain fair and humane conditions of labor for men, women and children, m their own and in all other countries' whereto their commercial and industrial relations extend, and agree to establish as part of the organisation of the league a permanent labor bureau. TREATIES TO BE REGISTERED. No treaty or international engagement hereafter entered into by members of the league shall be binding' until registered with the secretariat of the league, who shall publish it as soon as possible. The high contracting parties accept the present covenant as an abrogation of all obligations inter se which are inconsistent with the terms thereof. VALIDATING AMENDMENTS. Article 26 provides for the effectiveness of amendments to a covenant when ratified by the State whoso l'SDreaeiitatives

compose the executive council, and by three-fourths of the States whose representatives compose the body of delegates. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. AMERICAN COMMENTS. .;,. i TAFT PLEASED WITH RESULTS. Received Feb. IC, 5.5 p.m. New York, Feb. 15. The American press comment on the league is cautious, and doubt is expressed as to Congress' attitude. Mr. Taft is pleased with the results, which are better than he had hoped for. European exigencies will, in the course of time, supply further safeguards.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.