Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles marked the formal conclusion of World War I. It was signed on June 28, 1919, following six months of negotiations at the Palace of Versailles near Paris. There is ongoing debate among historians regarding the treaty's impact, with some arguing that its terms, criticized for their severity and leniency, may have played a role in the emergence of Fascism and the onset of World War II.

This list features vocabulary from Article 1 to Article 26. Read the full text here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. signatory
    one who writes his or her name on and is bound by a document
    The original Members of the League of Nations shall be those of the Signatories which are named in the Annex to this Covenant and also such of those other States named in the Annex as shall accede without reservation to this Covenant.
  2. covenant
    a signed written agreement between two or more parties
    The original Members of the League of Nations shall be those of the Signatories which are named in the Annex to this Covenant and also such of those other States named in the Annex as shall accede without reservation to this Covenant.
  3. accede
    agree or express agreement
    The original Members of the League of Nations shall be those of the Signatories which are named in the Annex to this Covenant and also such of those other States named in the Annex as shall accede without reservation to this Covenant.
  4. colony
    a geographical area controlled by a distant country
    Any fully self-governing State, Dominion, or Colony not named in the Annex may become a Member of the League if its admission is agreed to by two- thirds of the Assembly provided that it shall give effective guarantees of its sincere intention to observe its international obligations, and shall accept such regulations as may be prescribed by the League in regard to its military, naval, and air forces and armaments.
  5. armament
    weaponry used by military or naval force
    Any fully self-governing State, Dominion, or Colony not named in the Annex may become a Member of the League if its admission is agreed to by two- thirds of the Assembly provided that it shall give effective guarantees of its sincere intention to observe its international obligations, and shall accept such regulations as may be prescribed by the League in regard to its military, naval, and air forces and armaments.
  6. discretion
    power of making choices unconstrained by external agencies
    These four Members of the League shall be selected by the Assembly from time to time in its discretion.
  7. expressly
    with a clear or definite meaning or purpose
    Except where otherwise expressly provided in this Covenant or by the terms of the present Treaty, decisions at any meeting of the Assembly or of the Council shall require the agreement of all the Members of the League represented at the meeting.
  8. apportionment
    the act of distributing according to a plan
    The expenses of the Secretariat shall be borne by the Members of the League in accordance with the apportionment of the expenses of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.
  9. bureau
    an administrative unit of government
    The expenses of the Secretariat shall be borne by the Members of the League in accordance with the apportionment of the expenses of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.
  10. inviolable
    immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
    The buildings and other property occupied by the League or its officials or by Representatives attending its meetings shall be inviolable.
  11. concurrence
    agreement of results or opinions
    After these plans shall have been adopted by the several Governments, the limits of armaments therein fixed shall not be exceeded without the concurrence of the Council.
  12. munition
    weapons considered collectively
    The Members of the League agree that the manufacture by private enterprise of munitions and implements of war is open to grave objections.
  13. attendant
    following or accompanying as a consequence
    The Council shall advise how the evil effects attendant upon such manufacture can be prevented, due regard being had to the necessities of those Members of the League which are not able to manufacture the munitions and implements of war necessary for their safety.
  14. commission
    a special group delegated to consider some matter
    A permanent Commission shall be constituted to advise the Council on the execution of the provisions of Articles 1 and 8 and on military, naval, and air questions generally.
  15. forthwith
    without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
    In case any such emergency should arise the Secretary General shall on the request of any Member of the League forthwith summon a meeting of the Council.
  16. arbitration
    the hearing and determination of a dispute by a referee
    The Members of the League agree that if there should arise between them any dispute likely to lead to a rupture, they will submit the matter either to arbitration or to inquiry by the Council, and they agree in no case to resort to war until three months after the award by the arbitrators or the report by the Council.
  17. diplomacy
    negotiation between nations
    The Members of the League agree that whenever any dispute shall arise between them which they recognise to be suitable for submission to arbitration and which cannot be satisfactorily settled by diplomacy, they will submit the whole subject-matter to arbitration.
  18. breach
    a failure to perform some promised act or obligation
    Disputes as to the interpretation of a treaty, as to any question of international law, as to the existence of any fact which if established would constitute a breach of any international obligation, or as to the extent and nature of the reparation to be made or any such breach, are declared to be among those which are generally suitable for submission to arbitration.
  19. reparation
    something done or paid in expiation of a wrong
    Disputes as to the interpretation of a treaty, as to any question of international law, as to the existence of any fact which if established would constitute a breach of any international obligation, or as to the extent and nature of the reparation to be made or any such breach, are declared to be among those which are generally suitable for submission to arbitration.
  20. stipulate
    make an express demand or provision in an agreement
    For the consideration of any such dispute the court of arbitration to which the case is referred shall be the Court agreed on by the parties to the dispute or stipulated in any convention existing between them.
  21. convention
    an international agreement
    For the consideration of any such dispute the court of arbitration to which the case is referred shall be the Court agreed on by the parties to the dispute or stipulated in any convention existing between them.
  22. competent
    properly or sufficiently qualified, capable, or efficient
    The Court shall be competent to hear and determine any dispute of an international character which the parties thereto submit to it.
  23. advisory
    giving guidance
    The Court may also give an advisory opinion upon any dispute or question referred to it by the Council or by the Assembly.
  24. settlement
    something resolved; the outcome of decision making
    The Council shall endeavour to effect a settlement of the dispute, and if such efforts are successful, a statement shall be made public giving such facts and explanations regarding the dispute and the terms of settlement thereof as the Council may deem appropriate.
  25. appropriate
    suitable for a particular person, place, or situation
    The Council shall endeavour to effect a settlement of the dispute, and if such efforts are successful, a statement shall be made public giving such facts and explanations regarding the dispute and the terms of settlement thereof as the Council may deem appropriate.
  26. domestic
    of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
    If the dispute between the parties is claimed by one of them, and is found by the Council, to arise out of a matter which by international law is solely within the domestic jurisdiction of that party, the Council shall so report, and shall make no recommendation as to its settlement.
  27. inclusive
    encompassing much or everything
    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.
  28. abrogate
    revoke formally
    The Members of the League severally agree that this Covenant is accepted as abrogating all obligations or understandings inter se which are inconsistent with the terms thereof, and solemnly undertake that they will not hereafter enter into any engagements inconsistent with the terms thereof.
  29. procure
    get by special effort
    In case any Member of the League shall, before becoming a Member of the League, have undertaken any obligations inconsistent with the terms of this Covenant, it shall be the duty of such Member to take immediate steps to procure its release from such obligations.
  30. doctrine
    a stated government policy
    Nothing in this Covenant shall be deemed to affect the validity of international engagements, such as treaties of arbitration or regional understandings like the Monroe doctrine, for securing the maintenance of peace.
  31. strenuous
    taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance
    To those colonies and territories which as a consequence of the late war have ceased to be under the sovereignty of the States which formerly governed them and which are inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world, there should be applied the principle that the well-being and development of such peoples form a sacred trust of civilisation and that securities for the performance of this trust should be embodied in this Covenant.
  32. tutelage
    attention and management implying responsibility for safety
    The best method of giving practical effect to this principle is that the tutelage of such peoples should be entrusted to advanced nations who by reason of their resources, their experience or their geographical position can best undertake this responsibility, and who are willing to accept it, and that this tutelage should be exercised by them as Mandatories on behalf of the League.
  33. provisionally
    temporarily and conditionally
    Certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish Empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognised subject to the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a Mandatory until such time as they are able to stand alone.
  34. contiguity
    the attribute of being so near as to be touching
    There are territories, such as South-West Africa and certain of the South Pacific Islands, which, owing to the sparseness of their population, or their small size, or their remoteness from the centres of civilisation, or their geographical contiguity to the territory of the Mandatory, and other circumstances, can be best administered under the laws of the Mandatory as integral portions of its territory, subject to the safeguards above mentioned in the interests of the indigenous population.
  35. integral
    existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
    There are territories, such as South-West Africa and certain of the South Pacific Islands, which, owing to the sparseness of their population, or their small size, or their remoteness from the centres of civilisation, or their geographical contiguity to the territory of the Mandatory, and other circumstances, can be best administered under the laws of the Mandatory as integral portions of its territory, subject to the safeguards above mentioned in the interests of the indigenous population.
  36. observance
    conformity with law, custom, or practice
    A permanent Commission shall be constituted to receive and examine the annual reports of the Mandatories and to advise the Council on all matters relating to the observance of the mandates.
  37. duly
    in an appropriate or proper manner
    The Members of the League agree to encourage and promote the establishment and co-operation of duly authorised voluntary national Red Cross organisations having as purposes the improvement of health, the prevention of disease, and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world.
  38. mitigation
    the action of lessening in severity or intensity
    The Members of the League agree to encourage and promote the establishment and co-operation of duly authorised voluntary national Red Cross organisations having as purposes the improvement of health, the prevention of disease, and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world.
  39. ratified
    formally approved and invested with legal authority
    Amendments to this Covenant will take effect when ratified by the Members of the League whose representatives compose the Council and by a majority of the Members of the League whose Representatives compose the Assembly.
  40. dissent
    a difference of opinion
    No such amendment shall bind any Member of the League which signifies its dissent therefrom, but in that case it shall cease to be a Member of the League.
Created on Wed Mar 20 17:43:33 EDT 2024 (updated Fri Apr 12 15:21:37 EDT 2024)

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