XI.

The power of Amendment is so limited that a nation that might derive some advantage from the plan as first adopted, could unreasonably prevent a generally recognized amelioration of great value or even necessity. This should especially be considered in view of the fact that no provision is made for the limitation of the duration of the League.

(Followed in that a Member may withdraw on two years' notice (Article 1), but its liberation is conditional).

A few modifications in the application of the principles adopted in this draft, seventy-five per cent. of which is already in accordance with "The Isolation Plan," would obviate the foregoing weaknesses and be quite in harmony with American ideas. There is no necessity for surrendering legislative power and establishing a superstate in order to make arbitration effective. Matters can be arbitrated, without further legislation, as they have been in the past, upon recognized principles of right; and when international legislation is necessary it can be undertaken by conventions in which each country can keep its rights under its own control until the extent to which it will surrender them in each instance is defined and deemed satisfactory.

In the last analysis, the draft is based upon the idea that all adhering states, each time that occasion to take action under the recommendation of the Council would arise, would act and act favorably; and, as immediate action would often be essential to the successful operation of the League, they would act immediately. The Hague Conventions have been based upon such expectations.

The Isolation Plan simply comprises a Convention, under which a nation could place another in default for not arbitrating, or complying with a decree; and, the fact established, secure a decree of non-intercourse under fixed rules, independent of legislative action, or that of any standing official, save the Clerk of the Court of The Hague, under the responsibility of the Permanent Administrative Council, as at present existing. All States could join at once under it on an equal footing.

The nations to day can have their choice between:

Great armaments, a superstate and domination by a small group;

Moderate armaments, but always looking to them for ultimate defense, with recurring charges of exceeding limits, constant suspicion, unending expense and the necessity for close co-operation, involving the surrender to a central group of more and more sovereignty; and

General disarmament, save for national police purposes and guarding the seas from piracy, dependence on nonintercourse, no permanent body except a committee on disarmament (Article IX), the inauguration of a curtailment of expenses for armament that would permit of the rehabilitation of the countries desolated by war, and practically no surrender of sovereignty, save to arbitrate and comply according to fixed rules.

The last is the only safe plan for a republic and, if America would but insist upon it, she could secure it for the good of the World.

March 10, 1919.

ANNEX IV

THE COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES:

In order to promote international co-operation and to achie 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 organized peoples with one another,

Agree to this Covenant of the League of Nations.

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. 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 considertion 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.