Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-02-14

80 ~ w tAaC NAAN~ w ~ ANN
and to protect the
league S covenants and
the decision to effect commercial
and financial boycott against any pow
er that disregards its agreement, were
among the worlds important meas
ures provided in the constitution of
the league Of nations read to the plen-
airy session of the peace conference
by President Wilson in Paris this af-
ternoCn.
Vast powers were delegated to an
executive committee of nine members
Five members viii represent the Unit
ed States, the British Empire, France,
italy and Japan. The four other
states that will have representation
upon this committee have not yet
been designated,
Freedom of the seas is promised.
All future international treaties
must be registered with the league.
This does away with secret treaties
Of alliance.
Old treaties inconsistent with the
eague will be abrogated as soon as
he league comes into official life.
That Germany is not to get back
her colonies was made plain by Ar
ticle 10 which states that the powers
| thus able to do so would exercise
ttutolage ever certain colonies under
| mandatories from the league.
| Any war, or threat Of war whether
| between two nations members of the
| league or not is tteciareti matter of
concern to the league, and the pow
| ars reserve the right to interfere in
all disputes that cannot be settled
hru ordinary diplomacy.
Other measures of the constitution
provide;
The first meeting of the league of
nations shall be summoned by the
president Of the United Staets.
The executive council shall elm
mate the evils arising from great out
puts of arms and ammunition by
private enterprise
The nations in the league are for
bidden from concealing such pro
duction from each other
There shall be full and free inter
changes between the nations in the
league upon military and naval pro-
grams.
A permanent commission shall
be appointed to advise the league
on disarmament and on military and
naval affairs generally.
Plans for a permanent interna-
tional court Of justice shaNl be work
ed out by the executive council.
Tho league shall consist In addi-
ton to the delegates from the var
ious powers, the executive council
and a permanent secretariat which
shall be maintained at the seat of
the league
Each high contracting party shall
have one vote but shall not have
more than three representatives at
any one time.
The expenses for maintaining the
secretariat shall be apportioned
among the powers.
Admission to the league outside
| of the signatOries powers requires
| the assent of two-thirds of the
states represented.
Armament shall be reduced to
/ the lowest point consistent to ma
/ tioual safety
Self government for parts Of the
! Turkish empire.
Freedom Of religion for peoples in
territories under mandatory.
Contracting parties shall endeav-
! or to secure and maintain fair and
humane conditions of labor for men,
women and Children in all countries.
Amendments may be made to the
/ constitution.
Both the body of the constitution
and the preamble follow somewhat the
constitution of the United States. The
preamble sets forth that the object of
the covenant is to make world peace
secure in the future and to create
scrupulous respect for treaties.
To Ask senate's Ratification.
Paris, Feb. Immediately on his
return to the United States President
o. Wilson VII ask the senate for the rat
Iifcatiou of the league of nations CON
!. stitution as agreed upon at the peace
conference, Senator James Fl. Lewis
predicted this afternoon after read
ing the draft provided by the lnterna-
tional News Service.