Switzerland, the examination of which was delegated to the Council of the League by the Supreme Council. The Swiss Federal Council explained its point of view concerning the permanent neutrality of Switzerland within the League in its memorandum of January 13, 1920. This point of view it had already developed in greater detail in its message of August 4, 1919, to the Federal Assembly, a message which it had also sent to all the Powers. The Government of the Swiss Confederation has insisted, from the very beginning of the discussions concerning the League of Nations, on emphasizing—and always with entire frankness-that Switzerland intended to maintain her position as a perpetually neutral state even in the new international organization. The essential aim of the negotiations which resulted in the insertion of Article 435 into the Treaty of Versailles has been to reserve for Switzerland a special position resulting from her perpetual neutrality and compatible with the Covenant of the League of Nations, in accordance with Article 21 of said Covenant. This special status, justified by the unique position of Switzerland, has, according to the conviction of her people, a real value only on condition that it be effective under all circumstances and consequently also during the state of war stipulated by Article 16 of the Covenant. The concept of neutrality excludes all active military participation of the neutral state and any tolerance of military enterprises upon her territory, which is inviolable; it particularly excludes any passage of troops. The Federal Council attaches extreme importance to an authentic statement on this subject.

The Federal Government is particularly happy to recognize the excellent reception accorded at Paris to its delegates, Messrs. Ador and Huber, in the fulfillment of their mission. It is equally grateful to the Supreme Council for the friendly spirit which inspired its reply of January 26.

Finally, it expresses its complete confidence that the Powers represented upon the Council of the League of Nations will be equally willing-just as this has already been explained and demanded by the delegates of the Federal Council, at the time

of their mission in Paris-to enter into its views and to define in an explicit declaration the juridical position of Switzerland within the League.

NOTE. The referendum on the question of the accession of Switzerland to the League of Nations, which was held on May 16, resulted in favor of the proposition. The vote was close, 11% of the cantonal votes in favor of it, The popular vote in favor of the League was 414,954, and

101⁄2 against. against it, 322,886.

II

THE UNITED STATES AND THE

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

RESOLUTION OF RATIFICATION

November, 19, 1919

RESOLVED (two-thirds of the Senators present concurring therein), That the Senate advise and consent to the ratification of the treaty of peace with Germany concluded at Versailles on the 28th day of June, 1919, subject to the following reservations and understandings, which are hereby made a part and condition of this resolution of ratification, which ratification is not to take effect or bind the United States until the said reservations and understandings adopted by the Senate have been accepted by an exchange of notes as a part and a condition of this resolution of ratification by at least three of the four principal allied and associated powers, to wit, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan:

1. The United States so understands and construes article I that in case of notice of withdrawal from the league of nations, as provided in said article, the United States shall be the sole judge as to whether all its international obligations and all its obligations under the said covenant have been fulfilled, and notice of withdrawal by the United States may be given by a concurrent resolution of the Congress of the United States.

2. The United States assumes no obligation to preserve the territorial integrity or political independence of any other country or to interfere in controversies between nationswhether members of the league or not-under the provisions of article 10, or to employ the military or naval forces of the United States under any article of the treaty for any purpose, unless in any particular case the Congress, which, under the Constitution, has the sole power to declare war or authorize

the employment of the military or naval forces of the United States, shall by act or joint resolution so provide.

3. No mandate shall be accepted by the United States under article 22, part 1, or any other provision of the treaty of peace with Germany, except by action of the Congress of the United States.

4. The United States reserves to itself exclusively the right to decide what questions are within its domestic jurisdiction and declares that all domestic and political questions relating wholly or in part to its internal affairs, including immigration, labor, coastwise traffic, the tariff, commerce, the suppression of traffic in women and children, and in opium and other dangerous drugs, and all other domestic questions, are solely within the jurisdiction of the United States and are not under this treaty to be submitted in any way either to arbitration or to the consideration of the council or of the assembly of the league of nations, or any agency thereof, or to the decision or recommendation of any other power.

5. The United States will not submit to arbitration or to inquiry by the assembly or by the council of the league of nations, provided for in said treaty of peace, any questions which in the judgment of the United States depend upon or relate to its long established policy, commonly known as the Monroe Doctrine; said doctrine is to be interpreted by the United States alone and is hereby declared to be wholly outside the jurisdiction of said league of nations and entirely unaffected by any provision contained in the said treaty of peace with Germany.

6. The United States withholds its assent to articles 156, 157, and 158, and reserves full liberty of action with respect to any controversy which may arise under said articles between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan.

7. The Congress of the United States will provide by law for the appointment of the representatives of the United States in the assembly and the council of the league of nations, and may in its discretion provide for the participation of the United States in any commission, committee, tribunal, court, council,

or conference, or in the selection of any members thereof and for the appointment of members of said commissions, committees, tribunals, courts, councils, or conferences, or any other representatives under the treaty of peace, or in carrying out its provisions, and until such participation and appointment have been so provided for and the powers and duties of such representatives have been defined by law, no person shall represent the United States under either said league of nations or the treaty of peace with Germany or be authorized to perform any act for or on behalf of the United States thereunder, and no citizen of the United States shall be selected or appointed as a member of said commissions, committees, tribunals, courts, councils, or conferences except with the approval of the Senate of the United States.

8. The United States understands that the reparation commission will regulate or interfere with exports from the United States to Germany, or from Germany to the United States, only when the United States by Act or Joint Resolution of Congress approves such regulation or interference.

9. The United States shall not be obligated to contribute to any expenses of the league of nations, or of the secretariat, or of any commission, or committee, or conference, or other agency, organized under the league of nations or under the treaty or for the purpose of carrying out the treaty provisions, unless and until an appropriation of funds available for such expenses shall have been made by the Congress of the United States.

10. If the United States shall at any time adopt any plan for the limitation of armaments proposed by the council of the league of nations under the provisions of article 8, it reserves the right to increase such armaments without the consent of the council whenever the United States is threatened with invasion or engaged in war.

11. The United States reserves the right to permit, in its discretion, the nationals of a covenant-breaking State, as defined in article 16 of the covenant of the league of nations, residing within the United States or in countries other than