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 1
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
have not 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 a 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 League shall be borne by the Members of the League in the
proportion decided by the Assembly.
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 the Secretariat, shall
be open equally to men and women.
Representatives of the Members of the League and officials of the 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 shall 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 programmes
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 judicial settlement or to enquiry by the Council, and
they agree in no case to resort to war until three months after the
award by the arbitrators or the judicial decision, or the report by the
Council. In any case under this Article the award of the arbitrators or
the judicial decision 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 or
judicial settlement and which cannot be satisfactorily settled by
diplomacy, they will submit the whole subject-matter to arbitration or
judicial settlement.
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 for any such breach, are
declared to be among those which are generally suitable for submission
to arbitration or judicial settlement.
For the
consideration of any such dispute, the court to which the case is
referred shall be the Permanent Court of International Justice,
established in accordance with Article 14, or any tribunal 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 or decision 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 or decision, 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 or judicial settlement
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 consideration 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
nationals 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 16 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 purposes 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 recognized 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:
-
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;
-
undertake
to secure just treatment of the native inhabitants of territories
under their control;
-
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;
-
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;
-
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;
-
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
convention 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
amendments 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.
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