The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-02-25
WILSON READS CONSTITUTION
OF WORLD LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Breach of Pact is Made Act Of War
Against Members-Action, Econo-
mic and Military, Would Follow.
Reduced Armaments
Favored.

Paris, Feb. 14.-The executive
council Of the proposed league Of
nations, as outlined in the covenant
read by President Wilson today, vii
consist of representatives Of the
United States, Great Britain, France
Italy and Japan, together with rep
resentatives of four other states.
The council shall meet as often as
is necessary, but at least once yea1
at whatever place may be designat'
ed. Any matter within the sphere
of action of the league or affecting
the peace of the world will be dealt
with.
The president of the United States
shall summon the first meeting OF
the body of the delegates and the
executive council.
. The league will have a secretariat
under the direction of a secretary
general, who shall appoint the other
members. The secretary general
shall act in that capacity at all meet
ings.
The representatives of the high
contracting parties and the officials
of the league shall have diplomatic
privileges and immunity. The build
ing occupied by the league or its Of
fcials shall enjoy extra-territorial
benefits.
The admission of states not sig
natory to the covenant shall be with
the assent .of not less than two-thirds
of the states represented in the body
of delegates and shall be limited to
fully self-gcverning countries.
Admission to League.
No state shall be admitted unless
it gives effective guarantees to OBJ
serve International obligations and
unless it shall conform to conditions
prescribed by the league in regard
to its naval and military forces and
armament.
The high contracting parties un-
dertake to respect and preserve the
territorial integrity and political in
dependence of all states members of
the league against external aggres-
sion. In case of any such aggression
or any threat of danger of such ag-
gression the executive council shall
advise upon the means by which the
obligations of the members shall be
fulfilled.
The high contracting parties re-
serve the right to take any action to
safeguard the peace of nations in the
case of war or threat of war. In the
case of disputes arising between them
which diplomacy cannot adjust, the
high contracting parties will not re.
sort to war without submitting to ar.
bitration or to any inquiry by the ex'
ecutive council and until three
months after action by the arbitra
tors or the executive council.
The executive council shall formu
late plans for the establishment o1
q permanent court of internationa
Justice.
&Concerning armaments, the cove
nant says that the maintenance o1
peace will require the reduction Of
national ornaments to the loves
point consistent with national safety
and the enforcement of information
al obligations by common action, the
geographical situations and circum
stances of the various states being
taken into account.
The executive council shall fix thu
extent of armaments and these shall
not be exceeded without the permis
sion Of the council.
It is agreed that the private man
ufacture of munitions and imple
ments of war 'slends itself to grav,
objections" The executive council
is directed to give advice on th'
abatement of this evil.
The contracting parties undertake
not to conceal their ability to pro
duce munitions and ornaments ant
agree on a full interchange of in
formation as to military and nava
programs.