Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-05-14
Many important Changes Made in
Document Since 1t Was First
u Tentatively Drawn Up.
NHIRTY-TWO NATIONS IN
| PACT; OTHERS INVITED
president Wilson to Have Honor Of
\ Calling the First Meeting Of the
! League and Of the Executive
Council-Monroe Doctrine
Specifically Upheld.

Washington, April 27.-The state de-
apartment made public tonight the text
lof the revised covenant of the league
lof nations, as it was presented to the
iplenary session of the peace confer
lence at Paris. The text follows:
The covenant of the league of ma
ltions:
: In order to promote international
Incorporation and to achieve interna-
Itional peace and security, by the ac-
Iceptance of obligations not to resort to
war, by the prescription of open, just,
land honorable relations between ma
Itions, by the firm establishment Of the
understandings of international law as
Ito actual rule of conduct among gov
ternments, and by the maintenance of
Justice and a scrupulous respect for
iall treaty obligations in the dealings
Icf organized peoples with one another,
the high contracting parties> agree to
this covenant of the league of nations.
lin the original preamble the last
tsentence read adopt this constitution"
instead of "agree to this covenant"l
ARTICLE ONE
The original members of the league
TOT nations shall be those of the sigma
tories which are named in the annex
Ito this covenant and also such of those
lother states named in the annex as
ishall accede without reservation TO
this covenant. Such accessions shall
lbe effected by declaration deposited
with the secretariat within two months
lof the coming into force of the cove
lnant. Notice thereof shall be sent to
lall other members of the league.
Any fully self-goyerning state, do
lminion, or colony not named in the an
mex, may become member of the
league if its admission is agreed by
fwo-thirds of the assembly, provided
THAT it shall give effective guarantees
of its sincere intention to observe its
international obligations and shall ac-
lcept such regulations as may be pre-
iscribed by the league in regard to It's
military and naval force and arma.
iments.
Any member of the league may,
latter two years. notice of it's intention
tso to do, withdraw from the league
provided that all its international OBJ
lLgations and all It's obligations under
this covenant shall have been fulfilled
lat the time of its withdrawal
This article is new, embodying with
alterations and additions the old ar
Ihcle VII. 1t provides more specifically
1.-THE method of admitting new members
land adds the entirely new paragraph
iproviding for withdrawal from the
i1eague. No mention of withdrawal was
made In the original dooument.]
! ARTICLE TWO.
The action of the league under this
lcovenant shall be effected through the
fundamentally Of an assembly and OF
in council, with permanent secretariat.
Originally this was part of article
u. 1t gives the name assembly to the
lgathering of representatives of the
members of the league, formerly re-
ferred to merely as "the body of del
legates.")
/ ARTICLE THREE.
The assembly shall consist Of repre-
Isentatives Of the members OF, the
iieague.
! The assembly shall meet at stated
Intervals and from time to time as, oc-
lcasion may require, at the seat of the
league, or at such other place as may
lbe decided upon.
The assembly may deal at it's meet
jtngs with any matter within the sphere
of action of the league, or affecting the
peace Of the world.
At meetings of the assembly, each
member Of the league shall have one
vote, and may have not more than
three representatives.
(This, embodies parts Of the original
PARTICLES one, two and three, with only
minor changes. 1t refers to members
of the league" where the term "high
tcontracting parties" originally was
fused, and this change Is followed
throughout the revised draft.)
ARTICLE FOUR.
The council shall consist Of repre-
isentatives of the United States of
America, of the British empire, of
France, of Italy, and of Japan, to-
gether with representatives Of four
other members of the league. These
four members of the league shall be
iselected by the assembly from time
TO time in its discretion. Until the
appointment of the representatives Of
the four members of the league first
fsclected by the assembly, representa-
itiyes of - shall be members of the
council.
| With the approval Of the majority
Of the assembly the council may name
additional members to the league
Whose representatives shall always be
members Of the council; the council
with like approval may increase the
lnumber Of members of the league to
be selected by the assembly for repre-
lsentation on the council
The council shall meet from time to