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EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

TEXT OF THE COVENANT.

London, Feb. 1 The text of the League of Nations Covenant is official by published.

The preamble states: In order to promote internation al co-operation and secure international peace and security by the acceptance of obligations not by resort to war, by pessoription of open, just and honorable relations between nations, by the Arm establishment of understandings of in- ternational law as the actual rule of conduct among Govern- "monts, and by the maintenance of just and scrupulous respect of all treaty obligations in dealings of organised peoples with one another, the Powers signatory to this Coresant adopt this Constitation of the League of Nations.?”

Each

The opening articles declare that action of the covenant- ing parties shall be effected through meetings of repré- sentative delegates at stated intervals at the seat of the League or elsewhere, and through meetings of the Execu tire Council and permanent International Secretariat at the seat of the League at more frequent intervals. contracting party at the meetings of delegates has one. rote, but not more than three representatives. The Execu tive Council consists of representatives of the United States, the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan and four other States who may be selected by the delegates. The Council meetings shall be held at least once annually at the seat of the League or elsewhere.

Ang matter within the sphere of action of the League or affecting the world's peace may be dealt with at such meeting Invitations shall be sent to any Power to attend the Council meeting whereat matters directly affecting its interests will be discussed. No décision is binding unless such invitation is extended The President of the United States shall summon the first meeting of representative dele- gates and the Executive Council.

Artiet even lays down that admission to the League of States which are not signatories to the Covenant re- quires the assent of not less than two thirds of the States in the body of the delegates, and shall be limited to fully self-governing countries, including dominions and colonies.

Article eight states that the high contracting parties recognise the principle that the maintenance of peace requires reduction of national armaments to the lowest point consistent with national safety and enforcement by common action of international obligations, having special regard to the geographical situation and circumstances of ench State: and the Executive Council shall formulate plans electing such reduction. The Executive Council shall also determine for the consideration and action of the several Governments what military equipment and armament would be fair and reasonable in proportion to the scale of forces. laid down in the programime of disarmament, and these limits, he adopted, shall not be exceeded without permis- sion of Executive Council The high contracting parties agree that the private manufacture of munitions and im plements of war lends itself to grave objections and direct the Executive Council to advise how the evil effects attend- ant on such manufacture can be prevented, due regard being paid to the necessities of countries which are unable to manufacture of themselves the munitions and implements of war necessary for their safety.

(Part of the message is here missing).

Article twelve says that the high contracting parties reserve the right to take action deemed wise and effectual to safeguard peace. Each of the high contracting parties is entitled to draw the League's attention to circumstances likely to affect international peace or good understanding" whercon peace depends. The high contracting parties gree in no case to resort to war without previously submit ting unadjustable dispates to arbitration or enquiry by the Executive Council, and until three months after the award by the arbitrators or recommendation by the Executive. Council, and will not even then resort to war against D member of the League which complies with such award or recommendation. The award of the arbitrators shall be made within reasonable time and the Executive Council's recommendation shall be made within six months after the submission of the dispute. The Court of Arbitration shall be a Court agreed on by the disputants. The high contracting parties agree to carry out in full good faith any award. If the award is not carried out the Executive Council shall propose the best steps to give & effect thereto.

Provision is made for the establishment of a permanent - Court of International Justice which shall be competent to determine any matter submitted for arbitration. If dispute should arise between members of the league which is likely to lead to rupture and which is not submitted to arbitration, the high contracting parties agree to reler the matter to the Executive Council, and the parties concerned shall promptly furnish statements of their case. Arrangements are made for publication of the nature of the dispate and terms of settlement and appropriate explanations where settlement is effected If the dispute be unsettled the Council shall publish all necessary facts in explanation and recommendations which the Council think just for the settle- If this report is unanimously agreed by the Council other than the disputants, the highntracting parties agree not to war with any party complying with the recom mendation. If any party refuse to comply the Council shall propose the measures necessary to give effect to the recom mendations; but if no such unanimous report can be reach- ed. majority and minority statements and recommendations shall be issued and provision made for reference by the Executive Council of the dispate to the representative dele- gater. who are thereupon vested with Executive Council power. Article sixteen declares: If any high contracting parties break or disregard its convenants under Article 12, it is

ment

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

ipso facto deamed to have committed an act of war against all other members of the League, which heroby undertake immediately to subject it to the severance of all trade or Anancial relations, the prohibition of all intercourse between their nationals and nationals of the covenant breaking State and prevention of all financial, commercial or personal in- tercourse between the nationals of the convenant breaking State and the nationals of any other State, whether member of the League or not.

It shall be the Executive Council's duty to recommend what effective military or naval force the members of the League shall severally contribute to an armed force to be ased to protect the League's covenants. The high contract- ing parties agree mutually to support one another in financial and economic measures under this article in arder to mini- mise the resultant loss and inconvenience, and will mutually jupport one another in resisting special measures aimed at one of their number by a convenant breaking State and will afford passage through their territory to forces of any of the high contracting parties co-operating to protect the League's convenants.

Article seventeen deals with disputes between members and non-members of the League or between non-members itatea The bigh contracting parties agres that non- member States shall be invited to sccept the obligations of membership of the League for purposes of the dispute. The Executive Council shall thereapon immediately institute inquiry into the circumstances and merits of the dispute and recommend the most desirable action. Should a non- member Power refuse to secept the obligations of member- ship and take action against a member of the League, which in the case of a member of the League would con- stitute a breach of Article 12, then the provisions of Article 16 are applicable against the State taking such action. I both disputants decline to accept the obligations of mem- . bership for the purposes of their dispute the Executive Council may take steps to prevent hostilities and bring about a settlement of the dispute.

I is laid down that the League is entrusted with general supervision of trade in arms and ammunition with countries wherein the control of this traffic is necessary.

Article nineteen deals with "colonies and territories which in consequence of the late war have ceased to be under the sovereignty of States formerly governing them and which are inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand by themselves ander the strenuous conditions of the modern world. The principle should be applied that the well-being and development of such peoples form a sacred trust for civilisation and securities for the performance of this trust should be embodied in the League's constitution. The best method of giving practical effect to this principle is that the tutelage of such peoples should be entrusted to advanced cations who by reason of their resources, experience, or geographical position can beat undertake this responsibility, and that this tutelage should be exercised by them as mandatories on behalf of the League. The character of the mandate must differ according to the stage of development of the people, geographical situation, territory. its economic conditions and other similar circumstances. Certain com-

munities formerly belonging to the Turkish Empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can provisionally be recognised subject to the rendering ef administrative advice and assistance by the mandatory Fower until such time as they are able to stand alone. The wishes of these communi- ties must be

principal consideration selection

in the of mandatory. Other peoples, those of Central Africa are at such

especially a atage that the mandatory must be responsible for the administration of the territory subject to conditions which guarantee free- dom of conscience or religion, subject only to maintenance of public order and morals, prohibition of abuses such as slave trade, arms and liquor traffic, prevention of the establishment of fortifications or military or paval tages and the military training of the natives for other than police purposes and the defence of territory, and will also secure equal opportunities for the trade and commerce of other members of the League.

There are territories, such as South West-Africa and certain of the south Pacific Islands, which, owing to the sparseness of population or their small size or remoteness from centres of civilisation, or geographical contiguity to a mandatory state or other circumstances, can best be ad- ministered under the laws of the mandatory state as integral portions thereof, subject to the safeguards mentioned above in the interests of the indigenors population. The mandatory state shall render to the League an annual report with reference to the territory committed to its charge The degree of authority, control or administration to be exercis- ed by the mandatory State shall, if not previously agreed upon by the high contracting parties, in each case be explicitly defined by the Executive Council in a special act or charter. The high contracting parties further agree to establish at the seat of the League & Mandatory Commission to receive and examine the annual reports of mandatory powers and assist the League in ensuring the observance of the terms of all mandates.".

Article twenty states: The high contracting parties will endeavour to secure and maintain fair and humane conditions of labour for men, women and children in their own and all countries to which their commercial or industrial relations extend and agree to establish as part of the organisation of the League a permanent Labour Bureau. The League is appointed as an instrument"to secure and maintain freedom of transit and equitable treatment for the commerce of all its members. All international” bureaux henceforth constituted shall be placed under the League's control, also the existing bureaux if the parties thereto agree. No treaty or international engagement hereafter entered into by a member of the League shall be binding until registered with the Secretarial of the League who shall publish it as soon as possible. A body of delegates will periodically advise reconsideration by the members of the

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17. 1919.

League of treaties which become inapplicable and of inter- national conditions of which the continuance may endanger the peace of the world. The high contracting parties accept the present covenant as abrogating all obligations which are inconsistent with the terms thereof and solemnly engage not berealter to enter into engagements inconsistent with the terms thereof.

The present and future members of the League arO bound to immediately take steps to procure release from such inconsistent obligations. The Bnal article, twenty-six, provides for the effectiveness of amendments to a covenant when ratified by the State whose representatives compose the Executive Council and, by three-fourths of the States whose representatives compose the body of delegates. ...

THE COVENANT APPROVED.

Paris, Feb. 15, The special interest evinced in to-day'a plenary session of the Peace Conference was heightened by knowledge" that President Wilson, Lord Robert Cecil, H. Bourgeois and other prominent delegates were speaking. Fresident Wilson read the draft of the League of Nations covenant and emphasised the occasion as the turning point in the world's history.

Lord Robert Cecil followed and emphasised that it was insufficient to denounce war and that international com- patition must be prevented by co-operation of nations. The League must improve the conditions of labour by inter national arrangement. The League 'must not be a new version of old alliances but each nation must work for the happiness of other countries. Thus the League would be both their glory and safeguard.

Signor Orlando wholeheartedly supported the principle of which to day was the tangible reality. He described the League as the Charter of Life; born in the sorrow and anguish of countless dead.

Baren Makino, on behalf of the Japanese delegation, insisted on the importance of the scheme and said that when it came up for discussion he would make proposals. Mr. Barnes emphasised the economic burden now weighing on all people and hoped the war factories would be completely abolished. He rejoiced to see the embryo International Labour Charter in the League. M. Venizelos, and Mr. Koo (China), completely approved of the scheme. Emir Feisu! made reservations regarding Article 19 with the object of safeguarding the rights of the peoples be represents and asking the support of the Powers whom they had chosen

Clemenceau "replying to question by Mr. Hughes declared that the report was tabled by President Wilson for discussion as soon as work was sufficiently advanced M... Bourgeois said it was necessary that each state maintain forces which, when united, would safeguard the decisions of the league. He hoped the scheme would soon be the law of nations.

THE REPARATION COMMISSION.

London, Feb. 14.

A communique from Paris (Feb. 1th) states that Mr. Hughes and Mr. Dulles explained the Anglo-American view. points to the Reparation Commission.

SYRIA'S ASPIRATIONS.

Paris, Feb. 14.

The Peace Conference Committee yesterday heard the Syrian representative Chekri Ganem, who claimed independ ence for Syria and suggested that France should be entrust- ed with the task of giving Syria friendly assistance.

A FINE GIFT.

Basle, Feb. 14.

Sir Ernest Cassel has given £500,000 for the education of workers and women, promotion of study of foreign languages and establishment of a Faculty of Commerce at London University. The trustees include Mr. Asquith, Lord Haldane, Mr. Balfour, and Mr. Fisher (Education Minister).

NEW GERMAN CABINET.

Bale, Feb. 14.

A message from Weimar states that the new German- Cabinet formed includes: Prime Minister, Herr Scheidemann, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Herr Schiffer; Foreign Affairs, Count Brockdorffratdan; War, Herr Noske; Colonies, Herr Bell; Ministers without portfolio, Harr Erzberger and Doctor David, Doctor David consequently Tesigned the Presidency of the Assembly.

Herr Beheidemam announced a temporary continuance of rationing with view to ultimate socialisation of the economic services; also a scheme for better bossing, con- fiscation of war profits, a double tax on incomes above a... certain amount, and a special tax on large fortunes. Herr Scheidemann hailed obtaining equal rights for women the greatest conquest of the new jurisdical order,

GERMANY'S HAUGHTY MOOD,

Amsterdam, Feb. 14.

A message from Berlin says that replying to Marshal Foch's note regarding the dispatch of a Commission to Poland the German Government claims the right to clear East Prussia of Polish insurrectionaries and refuses to socept instructions from its opponents regarding the be haviour of the authorities in East Prussia.

The Poles have formed a flotilla on the Vistula as the nucleus of a Polish Navy.

A YEAR OF BOLSHEVISM.

A TALE OF ANARCHY AND MURDER.

The Petrograd Soviet, accord- ing to the papers has demanded its "Bartholomew's Night of murder and terror for the present week; the leaders at Moecom have forbidden it. If the masi murders take place, the Bolshe rists will point to them as the unavoidable acts of a class conscious and resolute pro letariat; if they are averted, these "intellectuals" will call upon

the world to acknowledge their authority over the people. The policy of always shouting with the mob and, if there are two mobs, of shouting with the armed one, is a policy that must be temporarily successful in circam- stances such as exist in Petrograd, Moscow and the centre of Russia to-day, where the mob rules in the midst of anarchy.

If the Bolshevisis were states- men and not politicians, if, instead of condoning the excesses of the mobs, they had endeavour- ed to nerve them to constructive effort and to a sense of duty, we should have seen a very different state of affairs in Russia. Where the Bolshevists have in rare cases attempted this they have failed miserably, and their sppeals y have ended in a complete surren- der to the mob. No one knows better than M. Litvinoff that ever since the Bolshevists seized power the wheels of the Govern- ment machine have in every constructive respect cessed to revolve. The peasants seized the lan, but they send the towns Do bread. The workers handed over industry to the Bolshevist Soviet, and industry ceased to exist.

The Bolshevista destroyed the Army and Navy, and no attempts of theirs can restore them. There is the Red Gasnl, it is true; but this exists only because its mein- bers are well paid and well fed while the rest of the population is starving. It is a tangerous thing to lead a mob too far,

pose.

even if the leadership is only an "intellectual " Sooner or later the blind passions of the mob will turn against the "leaders" who fail, as the Belsh- evists have. failed and mast inevitably fail, to produce plenty oat of anarchy.

If Russia wore a country of towns, and not an agricultural country, the Bolshevists would long ago have gone the way of all moblandere; as it is, their ultimate fate stares them in a face, and it is only the slow political move- ment of an agricultural country which is giving their power a false appearance of stability. The Bol- shevists, the "intellectuals" of the mob, comitted suicide before aven, they came to power. Pand- ering to, the passions of the crowd, they made impossible the realisation of the constructive. side of their own programme; meauwhile they have tragically obscured in the eyes of the world the first wonderful promise of the March Revolution-Times.

PHUTORIA

HIDAKKA

MONDAY,

TUESDAY &

WEDNESDAY

VICTORIA THEATRE

WILLIAM FOX

PRESENTS

BERTHA KALICH

IN

MONDAY,

TUESDAY &

WEDNESDAY

"SLANDER"

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