CONTENTS 7 TEXT OF COVENANT ON LEAGUE OF NATIONS READ BY PRESIDENT WILSON AT PLENARY I COVENANT PREAMBLE N order to promote international coöperation and to secure international peace and security by the acceptance of obligations not to resort to war, by the prescription of open, just and honorable 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 organized peoples with one another, the powers signatory to this covenant adopt this constitution of the League of Nations. ARTICLE ONE The action of the high contracting parties under the terms of this covenant shall be effected through the instrumentality of meeting of a body of delegates representing the high contracting parties, of meeting at more frequent intervals of an Executive Council, and of a permanent international secretariat to be established at the seat of the League. ARTICLE Two Meetings of the body of delegates shall be held at stated intervals and from time to time as occasion may require for the purpose of dealing with matters within the sphere of action of the League. Meetings of the body of delegates shall be held at the seat of the League or at such other place as may be found convenient and shall consist of representatives of the high contracting parties. Each of the high contracting parties shall have one vote but may not have more than three representatives. ARTICLE THREE The Executive Council shall consist of representatives of the United States of America, the British Empire, France, Italy, and Japan, together with representatives of four other States, members of the League. The selection of these four States shall be made by the body of delegates on such principles and in such manner as they think fit. Pending the appointment of these representatives of the other States, representatives of shall be members of the Executive Council. Meetings of the council shall be held from time to time as occasion may require and at least once a year at whatever place may be decided upon, or failing any such decision, at the seat of the League, and any matter within the sphere of action of the League or affecting the peace of the world may be dealt with at such meetings. Invitations shall be sent to any power to attend a meeting of the council at which matters directly affecting its interests are to be discussed and no decision taken at any meeting will be binding on such powers unless so invited. ARTICLE FOUR All matter of procedure at meetings of the body of delegates or the Executive Council, including the appointment of the committees to investigate particular matters, shall be regulated by the body of delegates or the Executive Council, and may be decided by a majority of the States represented at the meeting. The first meeting of the body of delegates and of the Executive Council shall be summoned by the President of the United States of America. ARTICLE FIVE The permanent secretariat of the League shall be estab lished at, which shall constitute the seat of the League. |