There was not time to work out a complete and well-digested plan for a League, but I had prepared in the rough several articles for discussion which related to the organization, and which might be incorporated in the organic agreement which I then assumed would be a separate document from the treaty restoring peace.

While unwilling to lay these articles before the President until they were more carefully drafted, I enclosed in my letter the following as indicative of the character of the organization which it seemed to me would form a simple and practical agency common to all nations: "_Suggestions as to an International Council For Discussion_ "_December_ 21, 1918 "An International Council of the League of Nations is hereby constituted, which shall be the channel for communication between the members of the League, and the agent for common action.
"The International Council shall consist of the diplomatic representative of each party signatory or adherent to this convention at -- --.
"Meetings of the International Council shall be held at -- --, or in the event that the subject to be considered involves the interests of -- -- or its nationals, then at such other place outside the territory of a power whose interests are involved as the Supervisory Committee of the Council shall designate.
"The officer charged with the conduct of the foreign affairs of the power where a meeting is held shall be the presiding officer thereof.
"At the first meeting of the International Council a Supervisory Committee shall be chosen by a majority vote of the members present, which shall consist of five members and shall remain in office for two years or until their successors are elected.
"The Supervisory Committee shall name a Secretariat which shall have charge of the archives of the Council and receive all communications addressed to the Council or Committee and send all communications issued by the Council or Committee.
"The Supervisory Committee may draft such rules of procedure as it deems necessary for conducting business coming before the Council or before the Committee.
"The Supervisory Committee may call a meeting of the Council at its discretion and must call a meeting at the request of any member of the Council provided the request contains a written statement of the subject to be discussed.
"The archives of the Council shall be open at any time to any member of the Council, who may make and retain copies thereof.
"All expenses of the Supervisory Committee and Secretariat shall be borne equally by all powers signatory or adherent to this convention." As indicated by the caption, this document was intended merely "for discussion" of the principal features of the organization.

It should be noted that the basic principle is the equality of nations.

No special privileges are granted to the major powers in the conduct of the organization.

The rights and obligations of one member of the League are no more and no less than those of every other member.