The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1920-10-22
And It's 26 Articles Explained.

3cerning its armaments. The Council
can then recommend what reductions
lin its judgment, should be made, eacl
Nation acting for itself, under its
own laws, with full regard for its otsr
safety
Article 10; Provides that The
members of the League shall re-
spect and guarantee each other 5
sovereignty against external ag-
gression. In the event of such ag-
gression, or IN case aggression i
threatened, the Council shall adj
wise how this obligation of mutual
defense against a coyenant-brealx-
ing nation shall be carried out.
This limits the League to action
only in cases of outside attacks on the
territory or independence of its neln-
bers and does not apply in cases cl
rebelli0n or revolution or Civil war
which are considered domestic affairs,
or matters for each nation to deal with
inside its own borders. The League
does not provide for any regulation OF
the domestic or internal affairs of any
nation. Only when such rebellion or
revolution actually threatens the peace
of the world could the League take
action to preserve world peace, which
is the main purpose for which the
League was formed
IN case of an outside attack upon
the territory or independence of a
member nation, the only actor" the
Council could take on its own author
ity would be to advise action III eul4
filment of the Covenant obligation and
this would have to be unanimous. II
the Representatives of the United
States on the Council voted with the
other eight members to recommend
the use of force against any nation or
nations. which attacked members OF
the League, such action on our part
could be taken only with the express
approval of Congress, which is the
only power in this country authorized
lIy the Constitution TO declare war
The principle of Article 10 is the
principle of the Monroe Doctrine Ca
guarantee of sovereignty applied 10
the whole world. That this principle
makes for peace and not for war is
shown by the test of experience as
stated so clearly by Governor Cox in
his speech of acceptance, referring to
the Monroe Doctrine as follows
~, 4. ..raa Afo,k,.o.1.,s, NJ ord ia
with alarm, predicting reeurrent wars
in defense of Central and South Amer
lean States, whose guardians they al
legged we need not be. And yet not a
shot has been fired in almost one hum
dred years in preserving sovereign
rights on this hemisphere.
Article IL Provides that, IN
the event Of an emergency arising
which seriously threatens the I'M
mediate disturbance Of peace, any
member of the League may
through the Secretary General,
summon a meeting of the Council
forthwith. Any war. whether di-
rectly affecting any Of the mems
bers Of the League or not, is de-
clared to be a matter of concern to
the whole League, which shall take
snel1 action as it may deem wise
and affectual to safeguard the
peace Of nations.
: This gives the League the right 20
deal with matters which If permitted
to develop, might endanger the peace
of the world, before the peace has
actually been broken.
Article u Provides that mem-
bers Of the. League must submit to-
or to inquiry by the
Council, any dispute which is like
" to lead to war, and must not re-
sort to war until three months after.
the award by the arbitrators or the
report of the Council, The Council
shall have six months in which to.
conduct its inquiry, render its re-
port, and make its recommends
tions.
Article 13 Provides for the ar
bitfation of what are called jus
ticiable matters, that is, matters
which are proper to be examined
by court of justice, and states.
what matters shall be so considered,
such as the meaning of a treaty,
questions of international law, fail
ure TO keep obligations, the kind
and amount Of reparation (judg
ment, fines, etc.) the members of
the Leagde agree to carry ont the
decision in good faith and pledge
themselves not to resort to war
with member which does so.
Article IA Provides for the
formulation of plans for the estab-
lishment of a permanent court of
international justice, competent to
near and decide all eases submitted