World's War Events Volume III Part 40

ART. XXIII.--The high contracting parties agree that every treaty or international engagement entered into hereafter by any State member of the League shall be forthwith registered with the Secretary General and as soon as possible published by him, and that no such treaty or international engagement shall be binding until so registered.

[Sidenote: Reconsideration of treaties.]

ART. XXIV.--It shall be the right of the body of delegates from time to time to advise the reconsideration by States members of the League of treaties which have become inapplicable and of international conditions of which the continuance may endanger the peace of the world.

[Sidenote: To procure release from obligations inconsistent with the League.]

ART. XXV.--The high contracting parties severally agree that the present covenant is accepted as abrogating all obligations inter se which are inconsistent with the terms thereof, and solemnly engage that they will not hereafter enter into any engagements inconsistent with the terms thereof. In case any of the Powers signatory hereto or subsequently admitted to the League shall, before becoming a party to this covenant, have undertaken any obligations which are inconsistent with the terms of this covenant, it shall be the duty of such Power to take immediate steps to procure its release from such obligations.

[Sidenote: Covenant to be ratified.]

ART. XXVI.--Amendments to this covenant will take effect when ratified by the States whose representatives compose the Executive Council and by three-fourths of the States whose representatives compose the body of delegates.

OFFICIAL SUMMARY OF THE TREATY OF PEACE

GERMANY

[Sidenote: The Allied and a.s.sociated Powers.]

The preamble names as parties of the one part the United States, the British Empire, France, Italy, and j.a.pan, described as the Five Allied and a.s.sociated Powers, and Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, the Hedjaz, Honduras, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Serbia, Siam, Czecho-Slovakia, and Uruguay, who with the five above are described as the allied and a.s.sociated powers, and on the other part, Germany.

[Sidenote: Desire for a firm, just and durable peace.]

It states that: bearing in mind that on the request of the then Imperial German Government an armistice was granted on November 11, 1918, by the princ.i.p.al allied and a.s.sociated powers in order that a treaty of peace might be concluded with her, and whereas the allied and a.s.sociated powers, being equally desirous that the war in which they were successively involved directly or indirectly and which originated in the declaration of war by Austria-Hungary on July 28, 1914, against Serbia, the declaration of war by Germany against Russia on August 1, 1914, and against France on August 3, 1914, and in the invasion of Belgium, should be replaced by a firm, just, and durable peace, the plenipotentiaries, (having communicated their full powers found in good and due form) have agreed as follows:

From the coming into force of the present treaty the state of war will terminate. From the moment and subject to the provisions of this treaty, official relations with Germany, and with each of the German States, will be resumed by the allied and a.s.sociated Powers.

SECTION I

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

[Sidenote: Specific duties of the League of Nations.]

The covenant of the League of Nations const.i.tutes Section I of the peace treaty, which places upon the League many specific, in addition to its general, duties. It may question Germany at any time for a violation of a neutralized zone east of the Rhine as a threat against the world's peace. It will appoint three of the five members of the Sarre Commission, oversee its regime, and carry out the plebiscite. It will appoint the High Commissioner of Danzig, guarantee the independence of the free city, and arrange for treaties between Danzig and Germany and Poland. It will work out the mandatory system to be applied to the former German colonies, and act as a final court in part of the plebiscites of the Belgian-German frontier, and in disputes as to the Kiel Ca.n.a.l, and decide certain of the economic and financial problems.

An International Conference on Labor is to be held in October under its direction, and another on the international control of ports, waterways, and railways is foreshadowed.

MEMBERs.h.i.+P

[Sidenote: How states may become members or withdraw.]

The members of the League will be the signatories of the covenant and other States invited to accede who must lodge a declaration of accession without reservation within two months. A new State, dominion, or colony may be admitted, provided its admission is agreed to by two-thirds of the a.s.sembly. A State may withdraw upon giving two years' notice, if it has fulfilled all its international obligations.

SECRETARIAT

[Sidenote: Permanent secretariat at Geneva.]

A permanent secretariat will be established at the seat of the League, which will be at Geneva.

a.s.sEMBLY

[Sidenote: Voting by States.]

The a.s.sembly will consist of representatives of the members of the League, and will meet at stated intervals. Voting will be by States.

Each member will have one vote and not more than three representatives.

COUNCIL

[Sidenote: Meetings at least once a year.]

The Council will consist of representatives of the Five Great Allied Powers, together with representatives of four members selected by the a.s.sembly from time to time; it may co-opt additional States and will meet at least once a year.

Members not represented will be invited to send a representative when questions affecting their interests are discussed. Voting will be by States. Each State will have one vote and not more than one representative. A decision taken by the a.s.sembly and Council must be unanimous except in regard to procedure and in certain cases specified in the covenant and in the treaty, where decisions will be by a majority.

ARMAMENTS

[Sidenote: Permanent commission on military and naval questions.]

The Council will formulate plans for a reduction of armaments for consideration and adoption. These plans will be revised every ten years.

Once they are adopted, no member must exceed the armaments fixed without the concurrence of the Council. All members will exchange full information as to armaments and programs, and a permanent commission will advise the Council on military and naval questions.

PREVENTING OF WAR

[Sidenote: Members to submit disputes to arbitration.]

[Sidenote: Council to consider means to protect covenants.]

Upon any war, or threat of war, the Council will meet to consider what common action shall be taken. Members are pledged to submit matters of dispute to arbitration or inquiry and not to resort to war until three months after the award. Members agree to carry out an arbitral award and not to go to war with any party to the dispute which complies with it.

If a member fails to carry out the award, the Council will propose the necessary measures. The Council will formulate plans for the establishment of a permanent court of international justice to determine international disputes or to give advisory opinions. Members who do not submit their case to arbitration must accept the jurisdiction of the a.s.sembly. If the Council, less the parties to the dispute, is unanimously agreed upon the rights of it, the members agree that they will not go to war with any party to the dispute which complies with its recommendations. In this case, a recommendation, by the a.s.sembly, concurred in by all its members represented on the Council and a simple majority of the rest, less the parties to the dispute, will have the force of a unanimous recommendation by the Council. In either case, if the necessary agreement cannot be secured, the members reserve the right to take such [action?] as may be necessary for the maintenance of right and justice. Members resorting to war in disregard of the covenant will immediately be debarred from all intercourse with other members. The Council will in such cases consider what military or naval action can be taken by the League collectively for the protection of the covenants and will afford facilities to members cooperating in this enterprise.

VALIDITY OF TREATIES

All treaties or international engagements concluded after the inst.i.tution of the League will be registered with the secretariat and published. The a.s.sembly may from time to time advise members to reconsider treaties which have become inapplicable or involve danger to peace.

[Sidenote: Monroe Doctrine not to be invalidated.]