The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-14
Twenty-Sn Points Of League Covenant

PARIS, Feb. 14-At the plenary ses
sion of the preliminary peace confer
ence this afternoon at $3.50 at the
| Quai d'Orsay. President Wilson as
chairman of the commission on the
| league of nations read and explained
| the following report:
Covenant. "Preamble-In order tc
promote international cooperation and
to secure international peace and Sc
curity by the acceptance of obligations
not to resort to war, by the prescrip
ton OF open, just and honorable re
lations between nations, by the firm
establishment of the understandings ol
international law as the actual rule
of conduct among governments, and
by the maintenance Of justice and a
scrupulous respect for all treaty obli
cations in the dealings of organized
people, with one another, the powers
signatory to this covenant adopt this
constitution of the league Of nations
Article 1.-The action Of the hign
contracting parties under the terms
of this covenant shall be effected
through the instrumentality of meet
ing of a body OF delegates represent
ing the high contracting parties, OF
meetings at more frequent intervals
of an executive council, and of a per
manent, international secretariat to be
established at the seat Of the league.
Article II-"Meetings of the body
of delegates shall be held at stated
intervals and from time to time as oc.
casion may require for the purpose of
dealing with matters within the
sphere of action of the league. Meet
ings of the body of delegates shall be
held at the seat of the league or at
such other places as may be found
convenient and shall consist of repre-
sentatives of the high contracting par
ties. Each of the high contracting
parties shall have one vote, but may
have not more than three representa-
tiveS.
Executive Council.
Article III-"The executive council
shall consist of representatives of the
United States Of America, the British
empire. France, Italy and Japan, to-
gether with representatives of four
other states, members of the league.
The selection Of these four states
shall be made by the body of dele
gates on such principles and in such
manner as they think fit. Pending
the appointment of these representa-
tives of the other states, representa-
tives of (blank left for names) shall
be members of the executive council.
"The secretary-general shall act In
that capacity at all meetings of the
body Of delegates or Of the executive
council.
"The expenses of the secretariat
shall be borne by the states members
of the league in accordance with the
apportionment of the expenses of the
international bureau of the Universal
Postal Union.
Article VI-"Representative of
the high contracting parties and Of
ficials of the league when engaged In
the business of the league shall enjoy
diplomatic privileges and immunities
and the buildings occupied by the
league or IT'S officials or by represent
tatives attending its meetings shall
enjoy the benefits OF extra-territorial-
ity.
Article VII-"Admission to the lea
que of states not signatories TO the
covenant and not named in the proto-
col hereto as states to be invited tc
adhere to the covenant, requires the
assent of not less than two thirds or
the states represented in the body OF
delegates, and shall be limited to full
ly self-governing countries, including
dominions and colonies.
mo state shall be admitted to the
league unless it is able to give effect
i've guarantees of its sincere lnten-
ton to observe it's international obll-
bations and unless it shall conform to
such principles as may be prescribed
by the league in regard to its naval
and military forces and ornaments.
Reduction of Armaments
Article VIII-"The high contract
ing parties recognize the principle
that maintenance of peace will require
the reduction of national ornaments
to the lowest point consistent with
national safety and the enforcement
by common action of international OBJ
having special regard to the
geographical situation and clrcum-
stances of each state; and the execu-
tive council shall formulate plans for
effecting such reduction. The exc
cutive council shall also determine
for the consideration and action of
the several governments what MILL
tary equipment and armament is fair
and reasonable in proportion to the
scale of forces laid down in the pro-
Efa m OF OlSdEuldueuI, anu lhCoC I'LL
its, when adopted, shall not be ex-
ceeded without the permission of the
executive council.
'sThe high contracting parties argee
that the manufacture by private en-
terprise of munitions and implements
of war lends itself to grave objec-
tions, and direct the executive coun-
Gil to advise how the evil effects at
tendant upon such manufacture can
be prevented, due regard being had
to the necessities of those countries,
which are not able to manufacture for
themselves the munitions and imple-
ments Of war necessary for their
safety.
"The high contracting parties under
take in no way to conceal from each
other the condition of such of their
industries as are capable of being ad-
apted to warlike purposes or the
scale of their armaments, and agree
that there shall be full and frank in
terchange of information as to their
military and naval programs.
Article IX-A permanent commits
sion shall be constituted to advise the
league on the execution of the pro-
visions of article VIII and on military
and naval questions generally.
Article X-"The high contracting
parties shall undertake to respect and
preserve as against external aggres-