69. Article 18 was inserted to satisfy apprehensions which had been expressed in certain quarters. The British Delegation were not convinced of its necessity, but saw no reason to object to it.
Article 19.
70. Article 19 was inserted as a saving clause. It emphasises the intention to preserve the Covenant as the principal document governing the relations between States Members of the League. The relations between signatories and non-signatories to the Protocol are still to be governed by the Covenant. The Covenant is to stand, but it is to be enriched by the principal provisions of the Protocol. The amended Covenant is intended ultimately to take the place of the separate régime of the Protocol.
Resolution No. 1.
71. It had been originally suggested that the provisions of the Protocol should be embodied in the form of resolutions to be submitted for adoption by the Assembly. In view, however, of the fact that adoption of such resolutions by the Assembly might be held to commit the Governments there represented to the acceptance of its provisions, and in view of the difficulty which Delegations found in consulting their Governments, this proposal was found to be impracticable. It was thereupon decided that the Protocol should be drawn up as a separate instrument, and that its acceptance should be recommended by the Assembly to all States Members of the League.
72. The draft of a resolution on these lines, which had been drawn up by the British representative, was discussed by the First Committee on the 27th September. Paragraph 1 recommends the acceptance of the Protocol. Paragraph 2 provides that the Protocol shall be open immediately for signature for those representatives who were already in a position to sign. This was added in view of the fact that the French and several other Delegations had announced their intention to sign the Protocol before leaving Geneva. Paragraph 3 was inserted because it was felt that the drafting of amendments to the Covenant was too technical a matter to be done hastily.
73. The remaining paragraphs of the resolution relate to the proposed Disarmament Conference which was dealt with by the Third Committee. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Assembly on the 2nd October.
Resolution No. 2.
74. This resolution recommends the acceptance of the obligatory jurisdiction of the Permanent Court of International Justice at The Hague by all Members of the League. The discussions regarding the special Protocol opened for signature in virtue of article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the Permanent Court, had revealed that the power to make reservations was wider than had been at first thought. It was therefore decided that no new Protocol was required, but that the power to make reservations should be clearly recognised in the resolution of the Assembly.
M. Politis's Report.