The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-05-02
PEACE COVENANT
TEXT MADE PUBLIC
REVISED CONSTITUTION OF THE
LEAGUES or NATIONS GOES
TO PLENARY SESSION.
Original Members Are All the Nations
Which Declared War on Germany
Recognition is Given the
Monroe Doctrine.

Washington revised covenant
Of the league Of nations, as presented
at Paris to the peace conference In
plenary session, has been made public
by the state department. Its essential
features, already had been disclosed
through an official summary issued
two weeks ago.
Attached to the text. however is the
hitherto unpublished annex referred
to in the covenant in which are named
the thirty-one states, including the
seIf-g governing British dominions,
which are to be the original members
of the league of nations, and thirteen
states to be invited to accede to the
covenant
The original members are all the
nations which declared war on Ger
many and In addition the new states
of Czecho-Slovakla and Poland. Those
invited to become members by acced-
ing to the covenant are the three Sean
dinayian countries, The Netherlands,
Switzerland Spain and Persia, and the
American republics Of Argentina,
Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Salvador
and Venezuela. Mexico does not APP
pear In the list Provision is made in
the covenant, however, for the addi-
ton to the league of any fully self
governing country which will give re-
quired guarantees, upon two-thirds
vote Of the assembly.
Assembly Will Govern
ft, tha n,.tuino1 dominant fha cav
enant 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 con-
sent of the council and majority of
the assembly.
The text provides that nothing In
the covenant shall be deemed ito af-
feet the validity of international en-
gagements such as treaties of arbi-
tration or regional understandings like
the Monroe doctrine for securing the
maintenance of peace" This was the
amendment for which President VIII
son made successful fight at the
same time the Japanese delegation to
| the peace conference sought vainly to
have race equality provision inserted
| in the covenant.
Withdrawal Clause Provided
Changes suggested in criticisms in
| the United States senate added pro-
visions for the withdrawal of mem
Der nation upon two years notice
| tions exempt domestic questions from
the leagues jurisdiction, provide that
| manufactures over German colonies or
| former Ottoman dominions shall be
| given only to nations willing to accept
| them, leave il to member state to de-
eide what armed forces, if any, it will
contribute to the force required by
the league to enforce 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 sub
! mission TO the council of international
/ disputes, for inviting nonmember ma
tions to accept the obligations of mem
bers for the purpose of adjusting dis
/ putes and for breaking economic rela-
lions or the use of armed force in
ealing with state which has broken
the covenant.
Except in certain specified instances,
unanimous agreement is required for
all decisions