The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-18
Abridged Draft Supplied by Archibald B. Watson exCor-
poraton Counsel of New York City-Valuable in
Study of This Important Movement in.
World Diplomacy
From The New York Times

From The New York Times.
| r., 4 al RGHIBALD r. WATSON, ex-
/ tASt Corporation Counsel of New
| GHyEQ York city and the author Of
| ~ a number of legal treaties
| EAaAH and textbooks, has prepared
| &A the fol | wing condensed
! AG1&GSA draft OF the constitution of
the proposed League of Ma
tons. 1t is only a trifle more than
one-quarter as long as the original
Only the verbiage, surplusages, and
repetitions, Mr.. Watson says, are
| omitted.
The titles are inserted to give fur
Their aid to a ready and easy under
| standing of the document so that the
reader may grasp the proposed con-
/ ditions of the League and the national
| rights and obligations acquired or as
sumed by the League membership:
PREAMBLE.
Purposes of the League.
The purposes of the League, as stat
! ed in the preamble, are:
/. International cooperation.
2. International peace.
8. International security.
4. Just and honorable international
relations.
5. The establishment of information
al law.
6. The maintenance of treaty obliga-
TONS
ARTICLE /.
Instrumentalities of Action.
The instrumentalities of action are
declared to be:
"a An executive council, (2) body
of delegates, 60 permanent secreta-
riat.
ARTICLE II.
Body of Delegates
The Body of Delegates, Hereinafter
referred to as the Delegates) consist
ing Of representatives of League mem
bers, of which the first meeting is to
be called by the President of the Unit
ed States, is to meet at stated inter-
walls, or IS occasion requires, at the
seat of the League, or elsewhere at
convenience. No League member may
have more than one vote in this body,
but may have as many as
three delegates. All procedural mat
tiers are to be determined by majority
vote. The Delegates are also empow
cred to complete the Executive Coun-
Gil mentioned in "II." mira, by the
selection of four additional States, in
addition to the charter members" of
the Council as provided.
ARTICLE II.
Executive Council.
The Executive Council Hereinafter
referred to as the CounciD shall con-
sist of representatives of the United
States, the British Empire, France,
Italy, and Japan, together with the
representatives of four other States to
be selected by the Delegates, as stated
in H. supra. Pending such selec-
ton, representatives of States not yet
named in the draft are to be members |
of the Council. Meetings of the Coun- |
Gil, of which the first shall be called !
by the President of the United States,
shall be held at least once a year at !
the League seat, or elsewhere, for the |
consideration Of any matter within the |
scope of the League, or anything af |
fecting the peace of the world. All |
procedural matters are to be deter |
mined by majority vote.
ARTICLE ".
Procedure.
All provisions hereof have been
transferred to, or inserted in, IT,
and '1II', supra.
ARTICLE V.
Permanent Secretariat.
This is to establish at the League
seat (not fixed by the draft) under the
control of a Secretary General, with
such staff as may be required. The
Secretary General, acting as such at
of the Delegates, as well as
the Council, is appointed by the Coun-
Gil alone. The under secretaries and
staff are appointed by the Secretary
General subject to confirmation by the
Council. The expenses of the secreta-
riat are apportioned between the mem
bers of the League.
ARTICLE vi.
Privileges and Immunites.
Representatives of League members
and League officials enjoy diplomatic
privileges and immunities, and all
buildings used for League purposes
enjoy extra territoriality. /
ARTICLE VII.
Admission to League.
New members, other than signato-
ries of the Constitution, are elected
by a vote of not less than two-thirds
Of the States represented in the Dele
gates. Membership is limited to ''ful-
ly self-governing countries" including
'dominions and colonies"
ARTICLE VIII.
Disarmament.
The principles of the desirability of
to the lowest point con-
sistent with national safety is recog-
nized, having regard always to special
and geographical situa-
tons; also the desirability of the en-
forcement of international obligations
oy common action. The Council is to
formulate plans for the reduction of