, 1919-05-08
Many Important Changes Made in
Document Since 1t Was First
Tentatively Drawn Up.
THIRTY-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.

partment made public tonight the text
of the revised of the league
Of nations, as 1t vas presented to the
%plenary session of the peace confer
ence at Paris. The text follows:
The covenant of the league of ma
ions:
In order to promote international
cooperation and to achieve interna-
tional peace n security, by the ac-
ceptance of obligations not to resort to
war, by the prescription of open, just.
and honorable relations between ma
tons, by the firm establishment Of the
understandings of international law as
to actual rule of conduct among gov
ernments, and by the maintenance of
justice and a scrupulous respect for
all treaty obligations in the dealings
of organized peoples with one another,
h high contracting parties agree to
this covenant of the league of nations.
lin the original preamble the last
sentence read adopt this constitution"
instead of "agree to this ~covenant."l
ARTICLE ONE
The original members of the league
of nations shall be those of the sigma
tories which are named in the annex
to this covenant and also such of those
other states named in the annex as
shall accede without reservation to
this covenant. Such accessions shall
be effected by a declaration deposited
with the secretariat within two months
of the coming into force of the cove
nant. Notice thereof shall be sent to
all other members of the league.
Any fully ~self-governing state, do
minion, or colony not named in the an
mex, may become a member of the
league If its admission is agreed by
two-thirds of the assembly, provided
that 1t shall give effective guarantees
of its sincere intention to observe it's
international obligations and shal ac-
cept such regulations as may be pre-
scribed by the league in regard to its
military n naval force and arma-
ments.
Any member of the league may,
after two years notice of its intention
sc to do, withdraw from the league,
provided that all its International OBJ
legations and all its obligations under
this covenant shall have been fulfilled
at the time of its withdrawal.
This. article is new, %embodying with
alterations and additions the old ar
ticle VII. 1t provides more specifically
the method of admitting new members
n adds the entirely new paragraph
providing for withdrawal from the
league. No mention of withdrawal was
made in the original document
ARTICLE TWO.
The action of the league under this
covenant shall be effected through the
fnstrumentality of an assembly and of
a council. with permanent secretariat.
Originally this was q part of article
]. 1t gives the name assembly to the
gathering of representatives of the
members of the league, formerly re-
ferred to merely as "the body of del
egates.")
ARTICLE THREE.
The assembly shall consist of repre-
sentatives of the members of the
/, league.
THE assembly shall meet at stated
intervals and from time to time as oc-
casion may require, at the seat Of the
league, or at such other place as may
be decided upon
: The assembly may deal at its meet
= ings 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 thar
three representatives.
(Thls embodies parts of the original
articles one, two and three, with only
minor changes. 1t refers to members
of the league" where the term "high
contracting parties" originally was
used, and this change is followed
throughout the revised draft.)
ARTICLE FOUR.
The council shall consist of repre-
sentatives 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 he
selected by the assembly from time
10 time In its discretion. Until the
appointment of the representatives OF
the four members of the league FIRST
selected by the assembly, representa-.
tives of - shall he 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
number of members of the league to
be selected by the assembly for repre-.
sentation on the council.
The council shall meet from time to