Baxter Springs news., 1919-02-21
or WORLD !
CONSTITUTION
Essence of the Preamble and Ar
ticles Which Bind the
Powers to q World
Peace

The preamble of the first world
constitution sets forth the cooperative
plan Of the powers to establish inter-
national place by the establishment
of international law as the actual rule
of conduct among the governments.
Such articles of the Constitution as
are considered to contain the more es-
sential points are herewith given:
Article pertains to the meeting Of
the Executive Council and the ap-
pointment of an international secre-
tary.
Article 2. takes up the meeting Of
the delegates:
Article 3 consists of the members
of the Executive Council Of the al
lied powers, consisting of the United
States, Great Britain, France, Italy
and Japan with representatives Of
four other nations to be chosen by the
Council.
The intervening articles up to Ar
ticle Z, cover in a general way the
preliminary matters of the Executive
Council. The real binding force of
the covenants starts in the following:
To Reduce Armaments
Article VII-The high contracting
parties recognizes. principle that the
maintenance of peace will require the
reduction of national armaments to
the lowest point consistent with ma
tional safety and the enforcement by
common action of international obli-
cations having special regard to the
geographical situation and circum-
stances of each state and the eXecu-
tive council shall formulate plans for
effecting such reduction. The execu-
tive council shall also determine for
the consideration and action of the
several governments what military
equipment and armament is fair and
reasonable in proportion to the scale
of forces laid down in the program Of
disarmament; and these limits when
adopted, shall not be exceeded without
the permission of the executive coun-
Gil.
Article X-The high contracting
parties shall undertake to respect and
preserve as against external aggres-
sion the territorial integrity and ex-
isting political independence of all
states members Of the league. In
case of any such aggression or in case
of any threat or danger of such ag-
gression the executive council shall be
fulfilled.
Article XI-Any war or threat Of
war whether Immediately affecting
any of the high contracting parties
preserve the right to take any action
that may be deemed wise and affec-
tual to safeguard the peace of nations.
1t is hereby also declared and
agreed to be the friendly right of each
of the high contracting parties to
draw the attention of the body OF
delegates or of the executive council
to any circumstances affecting inter-
national intercourse which threatens
to disturb international peace or the
good understanding between nations
upon which peace depends.
Article XII-The high contracting
parties agree that should disputes
arise between them which cannot be
adjusted by the ordinary processes of
diplomacy they will in no case resort
to war without previously submitting
the question and matters involved
either to arbitration or to inquiry by
the executive council and until three
months after the award by the arbi-
traitors or q recommendation by the
executive council; and that they will
not even then resort to war against
member of the league which CON-
plies with the award Of the arbitrators
or the recommendation of the execu-
tive council.
In any case under this article the
award of the arbitrators shall be made