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THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES, In order to promote international
co-operation and to achieve international peace and security by the
acceptance of obligations not to resort to war by the prescription of
open, just and honourable 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 a
scrupulous respect for all treaty obligations in the dealings of organised
peoples with one another Agree to this Covenant of the League of Nations.
ARTICLE I.
The original Members of the League of Nations shall be those of the
Signatories which are named in the Annex to this Covenant and also such of
those other States named in the Annex as shall accede without reservation
to this Covenant. Such accession shall be effected by a Declaration
deposited 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, Dominion, or Colony not named in
the Annex 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 accept such regulations as may be prescribed by the
League in regard to its military, naval, and air forces and armaments. Any
Member of the League may, after two years' notice of its intention so to
do, withdraw from the League, provided that all its international
obligations and all its obligations under this Covenant shall have been
fulfilled at the time of its withdrawal.
ARTICLE 2.
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 intervals and from time to time
as occasion may require at the Seat of the League or at such other place
as may be decided upon. The Assembly may deal at its meetings 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 not have more than three Representatives.
ARTICLE 4.
The Council shall consist 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 selected by the
Assembly from time to time in its discretion. Until the appointment of the
Representatives of the four Members of the League first selected by the
Assembly, Representatives of Belgium, Brazil, Spain, and Greece shall be
members of the Council. With the approval of the majority of the Assembly,
the Council may name additional Members of the League whose
Representatives shall always be members of the Council; the Council with
like approval 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 a
year, at the Seat of the League, or at such other place as may be decided
upon. The Council may deal at its meetings with any matter within the
sphere of action of the League or affecting the peace of the world. Any
Member of the League not represented on the Council shall be invited to
send a Representative to sit as a member at any meeting of the Council
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 Representative.
ARTICLE 5.
Except where otherwise expressly provided in this Covenant or by the terms
of the present Treaty, decisions at any meeting of the Assembly or of the
Council shall require the agreement of all the Members of the League
represented at the meeting. All matters of procedure at meetings of the
Assembly or of the Council, including the appointment of Committees to
investigate particular matters, shall be regulated by the Assembly or by
the Council and may be decided by a majority 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 Secretariat shall be established at the Seat of the League.
The Secretariat shall comprise Secretary General and such secretaries and
staff as may be required. The first Secretary General shall be the person
named in the Annex; thereafter the Secretary General shall be appointed by
the Council with the approval of the majority of the Assembly. The
secretaries and staff of the Secretariat shall be appointed by the
Secretary General with the approval of the Council. The Secretary General
shall act in that capacity at all meetings of the Assembly and of the
Council. The expenses of the Secretariat shall be borne by the Members of
the League in accordance with the apportionment of the expenses of the
International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.
ARTICLE 7.
The Seat of the League is established at Geneva. The Council may at any
time decide that the Seat of the League shall be established elsewhere.
All positions under or in connection with the League, including he
Secretariat, shall be open equally to men and women. Representatives of
the Members of the League and officials of he League when engaged on the
business of the League shall enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities.
The buildings and other property occupied by the League or its officials
or by Representatives attending its meetings sha11 be inviolable.
ARTICLE 8.
The Members of the League recognise that the maintenance of peace requires
the reduction of national armaments to the lowest point consistent with
national safety and the enforcement by common action of international
obligations. The Council, taking account of the geographical situation and
circumstances of each State, shall formulate plans for such reduction for
the consideration and action of the several Governments. Such plans shall
be subject to reconsideration and revision at least every ten years. After
these plans shall have been adopted by the several Governments, the limits
of armaments therein fixed shall not be exceeded without the concurrence
of the Council. The Members of the League agree that the manufacture by
private enterprise of munitions and implements of war is open to grave
objections. The Council shall advise how the evil effects attendant upon
such manufacture can be prevented, due regard being had to the necessities
of those Members of the League which are not able to manufacture the
munitions and implements of war necessary for their safety. The Members of
the League undertake to interchange full and frank information as to the
scale of their armaments, their military, naval, and air programs and the
condition of such of their industries as are adaptable to war-like
purposes.
ARTICLE 9.
A permanent Commission shall be constituted to advise the Council on the
execution of the provisions of Articles 1 and 8 and on military, naval,
and air questions generally.
ARTICLE 10.
The Members of the League undertake to respect and preserve as against
external aggression the territorial integrity and existing political
independence of all Members of the League. In case of any such aggression
or in case of any threat or danger of such aggression the Council shall
advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be fulfilled.
ARTICLE 11.
Any war or threat of war, whether immediately affecting any of the Members
of the League or not, is hereby declared a matter of concern to the whole
League, and the League shall take any action that may be deemed wise and
effectual to safeguard the peace of nations. In case any such emergency
should arise the Secretary General shall on the request of any Member of
the League forthwith summon a meeting of the Council. It is also declared
to be the friendly right of each Member of the League to bring to the
attention of the Assembly or of the Council any circumstance whatever
affecting international relations which threatens to disturb international
peace or the good understanding between nations upon which peace depends.
ARTICLE 12.
The Members of the League agree that if there should arise between them
any dispute likely to lead to a rupture, they will submit the matter
either to arbitration or to inquiry by the Council, and they agree in no
case to resort to war until three months after the award by the
arbitrators or the report by the Council. In any case under this Article
the award of the arbitrators shall be made within a reasonable time, and
the report of the Council shall be made within six months after the
submission of the dispute.
ARTICLE 13.
The Members of the League agree that whenever any dispute shall arise
between them which they recognise to be suitable for submission to
arbitration and which cannot be satisfactorily settled by diplomacy, they
will submit the whole subject-matter to arbitration. Disputes as to the
interpretation of a treaty, as to any question of international law, as to
the existence of any fact which if established would constitute a breach
of any international obligation, or as to the extent and nature of the
reparation to be made or any such breach, are declared to be among those
which are generally suitable for submission to arbitration. For the
consideration of any such dispute the court of arbitration to which the
case is referred shall be the Court agreed on by the parties to the
dispute or stipulated in any convention existing between them. The Members
of the League agree that they will carry out in full good faith any award
that may be rendered, and that they will not resort to war against a
Member of the League, which complies therewith. In the event of any
failure to carry out such an award, the Council shall propose what steps
should be taken to give effect thereto.
ARTICLE 14.
The Council shall formulate and submit to the Members of the League for
adoption plans for the establishment of a Permanent Court of International
Justice. The Court shall be competent to hear and determine any dispute of
an international character, which the parties thereto submit to it. The
Court may also give an advisory opinion upon any dispute or question
referred to it by the Council or by the Assembly.
ARTICLE 15.
If there should arise between Members of the League any dispute likely to
lead to a rupture, which is not submitted to arbitration in accordance
with Article 13, the Members of the League agree that they will submit the
matter to the Council. Any party to the dispute may effect such submission
by giving notice of the existence of the dispute to the Secretary General,
who will make all necessary arrangements for a full investigation and
conside action thereof. For this purpose the parties to the dispute will
communicate to the Secretary General, as promptly as possible, statements
of their case with all the relevant facts and papers, and the Council may
forthwith direct the publication thereof. The Council shall endeavour to
effect a settlement of the dispute, and if such efforts are successful, a
statement shall be made public giving such facts and explanations
regarding the dispute and the terms of settlement thereof as the Council
may deem appropriate. If the dispute is not thus settled, the Council
either unanimously or by a majority vote shall make and publish a report
containing a statement of the facts of the dispute and the recommendations
which are deemed just and proper in regard thereto Any Member of the
League represented on the Council may make public a statement of the facts
of the dispute and of its conclusions regarding the same. If a report by
the Council is unanimously agreed to by the members thereof other than the
Representatives of one or more of the parties to the dispute, the Members
of the League agree that they will not go to war with any party to the
dispute which complies with the recommendations of the report. If the
Council fails to reach a report which is unanimously agreed to by the
members thereof, other than the Representatives of one or more of the
parties to the dispute, the Members of the League reserve to themselves
the right to take such action as they shall consider necessary for the
maintenance of right and justice. If the dispute between the parties is
claimed by one of them, and is found by the Council, to arise out of a
matter which by international law is solely within the domestic
jurisdiction of that party, the Council shall so report, and shall make no
recommendation as to its settlement. The Council may in any case under
this Article refer the dispute to the Assembly. The dispute shall be so
referred at the request of either party to the dispute, provided that such
request be made within fourteen days after the submission of the dispute
to the Council. In any case referred to the Assembly, all the provisions
of this Article and of Article 12 relating to the action and powers of the
Council shall apply to the action and powers of the Assembly, provided
that a report made by the Assembly, if concurred in by the Representatives
of those Members of the League represented on the Council and of a
majority of the other Members of the League, exclusive in each case of the
Representatives of the parties to the dispute shall have the same force as
a report by the Council concurred in by all the members thereof other than
the Representatives of one or more of the parties to the dispute.
ARTICLE 16.
Should any Member of the League resort to war in disregard of its
covenants under Articles 12, 13, or 15, it shall ipso facto be deemed to
have committed an act of war against all other Members of the League,
which hereby undertake immediately to subject it to the severance of all
trade or financial relations, the prohibition of all intercourse between
their nations and the nationals of the covenant-breaking State, and the
prevention of all financial, commercial, or personal intercourse between
the nationals of the covenant-breaking State and the nationals of any
other State, whether a Member of the League or not. It shall be the duty
of the Council in such case to recommend to the several Governments
concerned what effective military, naval, or air force the Members of the
League shall severally contribute to the armed forces to be used to
protect the covenants of the League. The Members of the League agree,
further, that they will mutually support one another in the financial and
economic measures which are taken under this Article, in order to minimise
the loss and inconvenience resulting from the above measures, and that
they will mutually support one another in resisting any special measures
aimed at one of their number by the covenant breaking State, and that they
will take the necessary steps to afford passage through their territory to
the forces of any of the Members of the League which are co-operating to
protect the covenants of the League. Any Member of the League which has
violated any covenant of the League may be declared to be no longer a
Member of the League by a vote of the Council concurred in by the
Representatives of all the other Members of the League represented
thereon.
ARTICLE 17.
In the event of a dispute between a Member of the League and a State which
is not a Member of the League, or between States not Members of the
League, the State or States, not Members of the League shall be invited to
accept the obligations of membership in the League for the purposes of
such dispute, upon such conditions as the Council may deem just. If such
invitation is accepted, the provisions of Articles 12 to I6 inclusive
shall be applied with such modifications as may be deemed necessary by the
Council. Upon such invitation being given the Council shall immediately
institute an inquiry into the circumstances of the dispute and recommend
such action as may seem best and most effectual in the circumstances. If a
State so invited shall refuse to accept the obligations of membership in
the League for the purposes of such dispute, and shall resort to war
against a Member of the League, the provisions of Article 16 shall be
applicable as against the State taking such action. If both parties to the
dispute when so invited refuse to accept the obligations of membership in
the League for the purpose of such dispute, the Council may take such
measures and make such recommendations as will prevent hostilities and
will result in the settlement of the dispute.
ARTICLE 18.
Every treaty or international engagement entered into hereafter by any
Member of the League shall be forthwith registered with the Secretariat
and shall as soon as possible be published by it. No such treaty or
international engagement shall be binding until so registered.
ARTICLE 19.
The Assembly may from time to time advise the reconsideration by Members
of the League of treaties, which have become inapplicable and the
consideration of international conditions whose continuance might endanger
the peace of the world.
ARTICLE 20.
The Members of the League severally agree that this Covenant is accepted
as abrogating all obligations or understandings inter se which are
inconsistent with the terms thereof, and solemnly undertake that they will
not hereafter enter into any engagements inconsistent with the terms
thereof. In case any Member of the League shall, before becoming a Member
of the League, have undertaken any obligations inconsistent with the terms
of this Covenant, it shall be the duty of such Member to take immediate
steps to procure its release from such obligations.
ARTICLE 21.
Nothing in this Covenant shall be deemed to affect the validity of
international engagements, such as treaties of arbitration or regional
understandings like the Monroe doctrine, for securing the maintenance of
peace.
ARTICLE 22.
To those colonies and territories which as a consequence of the late war
have ceased to be under the sovereignty of the States which formerly
governed them and which are inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand by
themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world, there
should be applied the principle that the well-being and development of
such peoples form a sacred trust of civilisation and that securities for
the performance of this trust should be embodied in this Covenant. The
best method of giving practical effect to this principle is that the
tutelage of such peoples should be entrusted to advanced nations who by
reason of their resources, their experience or their geographical position
can best undertake this responsibility, and who are willing to accept it,
and that this tutelage should be exercised by them as Mandatories on
behalf of the League. The character of the mandate must differ according
to the stage of the development of the people, the geographical situation
of the territory, its economic conditions, and other similar
circumstances. Certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish
Empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as
independent nations can be provisionally recognised subject to the
rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a Mandatory until
such time as they are able to stand-alone. The wishes of these communities
must be a principal consideration in the selection of the Mandatory. Other
peoples, especially those of Central Africa, are at such a stage that the
Mandatory must be responsible for the administration of the territory
under conditions which will guarantee freedom of conscience and religion,
subject only to the maintenance of public order and morals, the
prohibition of abuses such as the slave trade, the arms traffic, and the
liquor traffic, and the prevention of the establishment of fortifications
or military and naval bases and of military training of the natives for
other than police purposes and the defence of territory, and will also
secure equal opportunities for the trade and commerce of other Members of
the League. There are territories, such as South-West Africa and certain
of the South Pacific Islands, which, owing to the sparseness of their
population, or their small size, or their remoteness from the centres of
civilisation, or their geographical contiguity to the territory of the
Mandatory, and other circumstances, can be best administered under the
laws of the Mandatory as integral portions of its territory, subject to
the safeguards above mentioned in the interests of the indigenous
population. In every case of mandate, the Mandatory shall render to the
Council an annual report in reference to the territory committed to its
charge. The degree of authority, control, or administration to be
exercised by the Mandatory shall, if not previously agreed upon by the
Members of the League, be explicitly defined in each case by the Council.
A permanent Commission shall be constituted to receive and examine the
annual reports of the Mandatories and to advise the Council on all matters
relating to the observance of the mandates.
ARTICLE 23.
Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of international
conventions existing or hereafter to be agreed upon, the Members of the
League: (a) will endeavour to secure and maintain fair and humane
conditions of labour for men, women, and children, both in their own
countries and in all countries to which their commercial and industrial
relations extend, and for that purpose will establish and maintain the
necessary international organisations; (b) undertake to secure just
treatment of the native inhabitants of territories under their control;
(c) will entrust the League with the general supervision over the
execution of agreements with regard to the traffic in women and children,
and the traffic in opium and other dangerous drugs; (d) will entrust the
League with the general supervision of the trade in arms and ammunition
with the countries in which the control of this traffic is necessary in
the common interest; (e) will make provision to secure and maintain
freedom of communications and of transit and equitable treatment for the
commerce of all Members of the League. In this connection, the special
necessities of the regions devastated during the war of 1914-1918 shall be
borne in mind; (f) will endeavour to take steps in matters of
international concern for the prevention and control of disease.
ARTICLE 24.
There shall be placed under the direction of the League all international
bureaux already established by general treaties if the parties to such
treaties consent. All such international bureaux and all commissions for
the regulation of matters of international interest hereafter constituted
shall be placed under the direction of the League. In all matters of
international interest which are regulated by general conventions but
which are not placed under the control of international bureaux or
commissions, the Secretariat of the League shall, subject to the consent
of the Council and if desired by the parties, collect and distribute all
relevant information and shall render any other assistance which may be
necessary or desirable. The Council may include as part of the expenses of
the Secretariat the expenses of any bureau or commission, which is placed
under the direction of the League.
ARTICLE 25.
The Members of the League agree to encourage and promote the establishment
and co-operation of duly authorised voluntary national Red Cross
organisations having as purposes the improvement of health, the prevention
of disease, and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world.
ARTICLE 26.
Amendments to this Covenant will take effect when ratified by the Members
of the League whose representatives compose the Council and by a majority
of the Members of the League whose Representatives compose the Assembly.
No such amendment shall bind any Member of the League, which signifies its
dissent therefrom, but in that case it shall cease to be a Member of the
League.
ANNEX.
I. ORIGINAL MEMRERS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS SIGNATORIES OF THE TREATY OF
PEACE.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BELGIUM, BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, BRITISH EUPIRE,
CANADA, AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AFRICA, NEW ZEALAND, INDIA, CHINA, CUBA, ECUADOR,
FRANCE, GREECE, GUATEMALA, HAITI, HEDJAZ, HONDURAS, ITALY, JAPAN, LIBERIA,
NICARAGUA, PANAMA, PERU, POLAND, PORTUGAL, ROUMANIA, SERB-CROAT-SLOVENE
STATE, SIAM, CZECHO-SLOVAKIA, URUGUAY
STATES INVITED TO ACCEDE TO THE COVENANT.
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC, CHILE, COLOMBIA, DENMARK, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY,
PARAGUAY, PERSIA, SALVADOR, SPAIN, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, VENEZUELA.
II. FIRST SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE LEAGUE OF NATION5.
The Honourable Sir James Eric Drummond, K.C.M.G., C.B.
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