The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-10-10
COVENANT OF THE
! LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Complete Text of This important
Document As 1t Was Signed
at Paris and Which Is Now
Causing Discussion in
This Country.

The people of the United States have
been asked, by both the proponents
and the opponents of the peace treaty
and League of Nations covenant, to
give expression to their desires
as to the ratification of the treaty as
1t stands or with amendments or reser-
vations. Some Of them have respond
ed, at the meetings addressed by the
president and by the opposing Sena-
tors, or by communications to their
senator's. But the vast majority of the
people are handicapped by their ig-
norance of the matter. Probably not
one in ten thousand has read the
covenant of the League of Nations as
1t was presented to the senate, main
| ly because few have had the oppor-
tunity. In order that our readers may
be prepared to do their full duty as
| citizens in regard to the controversy,
| the complete text of the covenant is
herewith presented, and they are asked
to read it carefully.
| The high contracting parties, in order
| to promote International cooperation
and to achieve international peace and
security by, the acceptance of obliga-
| tions not to resort to war, by the pre-
scription of open. just, and honorable
| relations between nations, by the firm
| establishment of the understandings of
| International law as the actual rule
| of conduct among governments, and by
| the maintenance of justice and scru-
| pulous respect for all treaty obliga-
| tions in the dealings Of organized peo-
| pies with one another, agree to this
| covenant of the League of Nations.
ARTICLE 1.-The original members
| Of the League of Nations shall be those
| of the stgnatories which are named in
| the annex to this covenant and also
| such of those other states named in the
| annex as shall aocede without reserva-
| ton to this covenant. Such accession
| shall be effected by a declaration de-
posted with the secretariat 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 in the an.
mex may become a member of the
| league If Its admission is agreed to by
two-thirds Of the assembly, provided
that it shall give effective guarantees
| Of its sincere intention to observe its
international obligations. and shall ac-
| cept such regulations as may be pre-
| scribed by the league in regard to its
military. naval and air forces and arm
| aments.
Any member of the league may, after
| two years notice of its intention so to
| do. withdraw from the league. provided
| that all it's international obligations
| and all its obligations under this cove
| nant shall have been fulfilled at the
| time of it's withdrawal
| ARTICLE 1.-THE action of the
| league under this covenant shall be
| effected through the instrumentality of
| an assembly and of a council. with a
| permanent secretariat.
| ARTICLE 3.-The assembly shall
| consist Of representatives Of the
| members of the league.
The assembly shall meet at stated in
tervals and from time to time as occa-
sion 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 than
three representatives.
ARTICLE 4.-The council shall con-
| sist of representatives of the principal
allied and associated powers together
| with representatives of four other
| members of the league. These four
members Of the league shall be select
| ed by the assembly from time to time
| In it's discretion. Until the appointment
| Of the representatives of the four men,
bers of, the league first selected by the
assembly representatives of Belgium,
| Brazil, Spain, and Greece shall be men,
| bers of the council.
With the approval of the majority Of
| the assembly, the council may name
| members of the league whose repre-
| sentatives shall always be members of
| the council; the council with like APP
| prevail may increase the number of
members of the league to be selected
| by the assembly for representation on
| the council.
The council shall meet from time to
| time as occasion may require, and at
| least once year, at the seat of the
league, ,r at such other place as may
! be deci Led upon.
| with any matter within the sphere of
| action of the league or affecting the
| peace of the world.
Any member of the league not rep
| resented on the council shall be in
| vited to send a representative to sit as
| a member at any meeting of the coun-
| Gil during the consideration of matters
| specially affecting the interests Of that
| member of the league.
| At meetings of the council. each
| member of the league represented on
| the council shall have one vote, and
| may have not more than one repre-
| sentative.
ARTICLE 5.-Except where other
| wise expressly provided in this cove
nant or by the terms of the present
treaty, decisions at any meeting of the
assembly or of the council shall re-
| quire the agreement Of all the mem
bers of the league represented at the
meeting.
All matters of procedure at meetings
| of the assembly or of the council, in
| GLIDING the appointment of committees
/ to investigate particular matters, shall
| be regulated by the assembly or by the
council and may be decided by a ma
/ jority of the members Of the league
represented at the meeting.
The first meeting of the assembly
and the first meeting of the council
| shall be summoned by the president of
| the United States of America.
| ARTICLE 6.-The permanent secre-
| tariat shall be established at the seat
| of the league. The secretariat shall
comprise a secretary general and such
secretaries and stan as may be re-
| Quired.
The first secretary general shall be
| the person named in the annex; there
after the secretary general shall be
appointed by the council with the ap-
/ prevail of the majority of the assembly.
The secretaries and staff of the sec