Background to the League > Essential facts about the League of Nations > 1936

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another in resisting any special measures aimed at one of
their number by the covenant-breaking State, and that they
will take the necessary steps to afford passage through their
territory to the forces of any of the Members of the League
which are co-operating to protect the covenants of the League.
4. Any Member of the League which has violated any
covenant of the League may be declared to be no longer a
Member of the League by a vote of the Council concurred
in by the Representatives of all the other Members of the
League represented thereon.
ARTicivE 17.
1. In the event of a dispute between a Member of the
League and a State which is not a member of the League,
or between States not members of the League, the State
or States not members of the League shall be invited to
accept the obligations of membership in the League for
the purposes of such dispute, upon such conditions as the
Council may deem just. If such invitation is accepted,
the provisions of Articles 12 to 16 inclusive shall be applied
with such modifications as may be deemed necessary by
the Council.
2. Upon such invitation being given, the Council shall
immediately institute an enquiry into the circumstances of
the dispute and recommend such action as may seem best and
most effectual in the circumstances.
3. If a State so invited shall refuse to accept the obli¬
gations of membership in the League for the purposes of such
dispute, and shall resort to war against a Member of the
League, the provisions of Article 16 shall be applicable as
against the State taking such action.
4. If both parties to the dispute when so invited refuse
to accept the obligations of membership in the League for