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 honorable relations be tween nations, by the firm establishment of the understandings of international law as to 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 high contracting parties agree to this covenant of the League of Nations.

[In the original preamble the last sentence read, "adopt this constitution," instead of "agree to this covenant."]

ARTICLE ONE

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 accessions 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 agred 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 and naval 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.

[The first paragraph is new. In view of the insertion of the covenant in the peace treaty, specific provision as to the signatories of the treaty, who would become members of the League, and also as to neutral states to be invited to accede to the covenant, were obviously necessary. The paragraph also provides for the method by which a neutral state may accede to the covenant. The third paragraph is new, providing for the withdrawal of any member of the League on a notice given of two years. This article embodies with alterations and additions the old Article VII. No mention of withdrawal was made in the original document.]

ARTICLE TWO

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.

[Originally this was a part of Article I. It gives the name Assembly to the gathering of representatives of the members of the League, formerly referred to merely as "the body of delegates."]

ARTICLE THREE

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.

[This embodies parts of the original Articles I, II, and III, with only minor changes. It refers to "members of the League" where the term "high contracting parties" originally was used, and this change is followed throughout the revised draft.]

ARTICLE FOUR

The Council shall consist of representatives of the United States of America, of the British Empire, of France, of Italy, and of Japan, 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 (blank) shall be members of the Council.

The Council shall meet from time to time as ocasion 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 rep

resentative.

[This embodies that part of the original Article III, designating the original members of the Council. The second paragraph of Article IV is new, providing for a possible increase in the Council, should other powers be added to the League of Nations whose present accession is not anticipated. specifically for one vote for each member The last two paragraphs are new, providing

of the League in the Council, which was understood before, and providing also for one representative of each member of the league.]

ARTICLE FIVE

Except where otherwise expressly provided in this covenant, or by the terms of this 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, 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.

[The first paragraph is new, expressly incorporating the provision as to the unanimity of voting, which was at first taken for granted. The other two paragraphs originally were included in Article IV. In several parts of the treaty, of which this covenant will form a part, certain duties are assigned to the Council of the League of Na、tions. In some instances it is provided that the action they shall take shall be by a majority vote. It is therefore necessary to

make the covenant conform with the other portions of the treaty. "Except where otherwise expressly provided in this covenant,' is the present reading, and I move the addition or by the terms of this treaty,'" said President Wilson in presenting the change.]

ARTICLE SIX

The permanent Secretariat shall be established at the seat of the League. The Secretariat shall comprise a Secretariat 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 the 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.

[This replaces the original Article V. In the original the appointment of the First Secretary General was left to the Council The second paragraph of Article VI has had added to it that a majority of the assembly must approve the appointment of the Secretary General.]

ARTICLE SEVEN

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 meeting shall be inviolable.

[Embodying parts of old Articles V and VI. The third paragraph is new, establishing equality of employment of men and women by the League.]

ARTICLE EIGHT

The members of the League recognize 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 member of the League, 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, 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 manufac ture 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 and naval programmes and the condition of

such of their industries as are adaptable to warlike purposes.

[This covers the ground of the original Article VIII, but is rewritten to make it clearer that armament reduction plans must be adopted by the nations affected before they become effective.]

ARTICLE NINE

A permanent commission shall be constituted to advise the Council on the execution of the provisions of Articles One and Eight and on military and naval questions generally.

[Unchanged except for the insertion of the words "Article I."]

ARTICLE TEN

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 ful

filled.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

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.