The Geneva Protocol — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Geneva Protocol
John Stuart Mill · en
128. _Article_ 7.--Owing to a change introduced by the First Committee
in the text of article 5, in consequence of which it was no longer
incumbent on the Council to make a declaration of aggression, it became
necessary to alter the wording of the beginning of article 7. It was
decided that this should run, "As {261} soon as the Council has called
upon the signatory States to apply sanctions against the aggressor
State, in accordance with article 6, the obligations," &c.
129. In paragraph 2 the words "signatory States" were substituted for
"Members of the League."
130. The article as a whole came in for some criticism, mainly from the
Netherlands and Scandinavian Delegations. Certain remarks made by Dr.
Benes in introducing the text to the Third Committee had caused
misgivings to those Delegations, who wished to be assured that the
obligations in this article did not go beyond those of article 16 of
the Covenant. They observed, as had members of the sub-committee, that
the distinction drawn in the Covenant between economic and financial
sanctions on the one hand, and military, naval and aerial sanctions on
the other, had disappeared from the present text, and they sought a
clear declaration that no fresh obligations were incurred in regard to
the latter category, and that each Member of the League retained the
right to decide its own course of action. In the course of his reply
Dr. Benes said, "the real application of the sanctions will always be
within the province of the Government themselves, and true co-operation
will always take place by direct contract between the Governments."
The Danish Delegation were not entirely satisfied, and moved to alter
the second paragraph so as to make it read, "co-operate loyally and
effectively in the carrying out of the obligations provided for in
article 16 of the Covenant." After consultation with the _rapporteur_,
they abandoned this amendment, and declared themselves satisfied with
the addition to paragraph 2 of the words, "in the degree which its
geographical position and its particular situation as regards armaments
allow." As thus amended, the article was adopted, and became article
11 of the final Protocol.
131. _Article_ 7A was adopted without amendment, becoming article 12 of
the final Protocol.
132. _Article_ 8.--The change, referred to above, in the text of
article 5, rendered necessary an alteration in the wording of the
second paragraph of this article, which it was agreed should {262}
begin: "Furthermore, as soon as the Council has called upon the
signatory States to apply sanctions, as provided," &c.
133. In the same paragraph it was decided to omit the words, "the whole
or such part of," and make it read, "bring to the assistance of a
particular State, which is the victim of aggression, their military,
naval and air forces." With these modifications, the article was
adopted, and became article 13 of the final Protocol.