Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-29
Wilson Explains Changes
Made in League Covenant

tho just treatment of nborigincs;
clause looking toward prevention of
the white slave traffic and the traffic in
opium, and clause looking toward
progress in International prevention and
control of disease.
Article NNN specifically mentions
the Red Cross as one of the interna
tional organizations which are to con-
meet their work with the work Of the
league.
Majority for Amendment
Article NNNI permits the amend
ment of the covenant by a majority of
the states composing the assembly. in
stead of three fourths of the states
though it does not change the require
ment in that matter with regard to the
! vote in the council.
The second paragraph Of Article
NNNI is also new. and was added at the
request of the Brazilian delegation. In
order to avoid certain constitutional
difficulties. 1t permits any member Of
the league TO dissent from an amend
ment. the effect Of such dissent being
withdrawal from the league
And the annex is added giving the
names of the signatorics Of the treaty.
who became members. and the names
of the states invited to acccdc to the
covenant. These arc all tho changes,
believe. which arc Of moment.
''Mr. President take the OF portunity
to move the following resolutions in
order to carry out the provisions of
the covenant You will notice that the
covenant provides that the first sccrc
tary general shall be chosen by this
conference. 1t also provides that the
first choice of the four member states
who are to be added to the five great
/ powers of the council is left to this
conference
II move. therefore, that the first sec
retary general Of the council shall be
the Honorable Sir James Eric Drum
mond. and, second. that until such time
as the assembly shall have selected the
first four members of the league to be
| represented on the council in accord
ance with Article 4. of the covenant
representatives of Belgium. Brazil
Greece and Snain shall be members ;
and. third. that the powers to be repre-
sented on tho council of the league of
nations arc requested to name repre-
scntatives who shall form committee
OF nine to prepare plans for the Organi
Zation of the league and for the estab
lishment of the seat Of the league and
| to make arrangements and to prepare
| the agenda for the first meeting of the
assembly, this committee to report both
to the council and to the assembly of
the league.
Concert of Free Nations
Il think it not necessary to call your
attention to other matters we have pre-
viously discuSscd-thc capital signli-
canoe of this covenant: the hopes which
are entertained as to the effect it will
have upon Stoadying the affairs of the
world and the obvious necessity that
there should be Il concert of the free
nations Of the world to maintain jus
tice in international relations. tho rein
tions between people and between the
nations of the world.
"If Baron Maxine will pardon mo for
Introducing a matter which | absent
mindedly overlooked. it is necessary for
me to propose the alteration of several
words in the first line of Article V. Let
me say that n several parts of th,
treaty, of which this covenant vii!