Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-04-28

IIlc COVeIldIlI. Ilc OTlS lIldl I
which declared war on Germ
states of Czecho-Slovakia and
Those invited to become members
by acceding to the covenant are the
three Scandinavian countries, the
Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain and
Persia, and the American republics
of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Para
quay, Salvador and Venezuela. Mex
leo does not appear in the list. Pro-
vision is made in the covenant. how
ever. for the admission to the league
of any fully self-governing country
which will give required guarantees,
upon a thirds vote of the as
sembly.
Assembly and Council.
AS in the original document, the
covenant provides that the league
shall act through an assembly, in
which each state shall have one vote
and not more than three delegates
and a council, comprising for the
present one representative of each
of the five great powers and each
of four other powers to be selected
from time to time by the assembly.
Members of each class represented
on the council may be increased by
unanimous consent of the council
and a majority of the assembly.
The text provides thar nothing
in the covenant shall be deemed ITO
affect the validity of International
engagements such as treaties of ar
bitration or regional understandings
like the Monroe doctrine Cor secur-
ing the maintenance OF peace" This
was the amendment for which Pres
ident Wilson made successful fight
at the same time the Japanese del
egation to the peace conference
sought vainly to have race equal
ity provision inserted in the cove
nant.
Changes in Draft.
Changes suggested in criticisms in
the United States senate add pro-
visions for the withdrawal of men,
Der nation upon two years notice
after fulfillment of the league obli-
cations, exempt domestic questions
from the leagues jurisdiction, pro-
vide that mandatories over German
colonies or former Ottoman domin-
ions shall be given only to nations
willing to accept them, leave it to
member states to decide what armed
force, if any, it will contribute to the
force required by the league to en-
force its mandates, and make it clear
that member states individually will
pass upon proposed limitations upon
their ornaments.
With notifications, the new draft
includes all the provisions for the
submission to the council of inter
national disputes, for inviting non
member nations to accept the obi
cations of members for the purpose
of armed force in dealing with
state which has broken the cove
nant.
Except in certain specified in
stances, unanimous agreement is re-
quired for all decisions.
Text of Covenant
The full text follows:
The covenant of the league of ma
tions:
In order to promote international
cooperation and to achieve inter
national peace and security. BY the
acceptance of obligations not to re-
sort to war. by the prescription of
open, just and honorable relations
between nations, by the firm estab-
lishment of the understandings of
international law as to actual rule
of conduct among governments. and
by the maintenance of justice and
scrupulous respect for all treaty
obligations in the dealings of or
ganized peoples with one another,
the high contracting parties agree
to this covenant of the league Of
nations.
1n the original preamble the last
sentence read, adopt this consti-
tution," instead of "agree ia this
covenant.")
Article One.
The original members of the
league of nations shall be those of
the signatories which are named in
the an..x to this covenant and also
such OF those other states named
in the annex as shall accede with
out reservation to this covenant.
Such accessions shall be affected by
declaration deposited with the sec
retariat within two months of the
coming into force of the covenant.
Notice thereof shall be sent to all
other members of the league.
Any fully self-governing state, do
minion or colony not named i'll the
annex may become member OF the