[The Peace Negotiations by Robert Lansing]@TWC D-Link bookThe Peace Negotiations CHAPTER XIX 19/49
The congress would thus cover the ground that is at present occupied by the periodical Hague Conference and also the ground claimed by the Socialist International. For the efficient conduct of all these activities it is essential that there should be a permanent central meeting-place, where the officials and officers of the league would enjoy the privileges of extra-territoriality.
Geneva is suggested as the most suitable place. II PREVENTION OF WAR The covenants for the prevention of war which would be embodied in the general treaty would be as follows: (1) The members of the league would bind themselves not to go to war until they had submitted the questions at issue to an international conference or an arbitral court, and until the conference or court had issued a report or handed down an award. (2) The members of the league would bind themselves not to go to war with any member of the league complying with the award of a court or with the report of a conference.
For the purpose of this clause, the report of the conference must be unanimous, excluding the litigants. (3) The members of the league would undertake to regard themselves, as _ipso facto_, at war with any one of them acting contrary to the above covenants, and to take, jointly and severally, appropriate military, economic and other measure against the recalcitrant State. (4) The members of the league would bind themselves to take similar action, in the sense of the above clause, against any State not being a member of the league which is involved in a dispute with a member of the league. (This is a stronger provision than that proposed in the Phillimore Report.) The above covenants mark an advance upon the practice of international relations previous to the war in two respects: (i) In insuring a necessary period of delay before war can break out (except between two States which are neither of them members of the league); (2) In securing public discussion and probably a public report upon matters in dispute. It should be observed that even in cases where the conference report is not unanimous, and therefore in no sense binding, a majority report may be issued and that this would be likely to carry weight with the public opinion of the States in the league. APPENDIX III THE COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS IN THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES 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 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.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|