Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-05-02
REVISED COVENANT ADOPTED.
Nations Accept Constitution of League
Without Amendment.

Without Amendment.
The covenant Of the league of ma
tions in revised form, moved by Pres
ident Wilson, was adopted Monday by
the peace conference In plenary ses-
sion without a dissenting vote and
without amendment.
The presidents motion also named
Sir James Eric Drummond> as secre-
tary-general of the league and pro-
vided for committee to inaugurate
the league. Thus one Of the notable
works of the conference passes it's fl
nal stage and is incorporated in the
peace treaty.
The French and Japanese amend
ments, after a brief discussion, were
not pressed, and the way was thus
cleared for unanimous acceptance OF
the league.
Italy was not represented at the ses-
sion, but the name of Italy appears as
one of the members of the league in
the covenant as finally adopted.
Nine labor principles were adopted
for insertion in the treaty.
The session adjourned without con-
sidei.ng the report on responsibilities
providing for the trial of the former
German emperor by five judges from
the great powers. This report was
handed in by the council of four and
embodies in the peace treaty a pro-
vision for the former emperor's prose-
cution, this however, has not yet been
adopted by the plenary conference.
This plenary session of the peace
conference opened at O'Clock Monday
afternoon in the French foreign office
under circumstances Of unusual In
terest because of the fact that it was
to be one of the last sessions before
the meeting with the German dele
gates at Versailles; that final action
was to be taken on some of the main
features of the peace treaty, notably the
league of nations, responsibility for the
war and the trial of the former Ger
man emperor and others, and because
important labor clauses were to be in
serted in the treaty.
For the first time at the conference
sessions Italy was not represented, and
the five seats of Premier Orlando and
his colleagues at the right Of NJ.
Clemenceau, the presiding officer, re-
mained vacant. The other delegations
presented full ranks, and the scene
was stirring as the French premier
opened the session.
President Wilson was recognized at
the outset for a detailed explanation
of the new covenant of the league
His speech was without oratorical ef-
feet and confirmed the explanation OF
the textual changes, most of which
have already been noted, and named
Belgium, Brazil, Greece and Spain on
the league council and also on the
committee to prepare plans for the
first meeting Of the league.
Baron Maxine, head Of the japanese
delegation, in brief speech called re-
newed attention to the japanese
| amendment on racial equality. He
said that the race question was
standing grievance, which might be-
come a dangerous issue at any time
The Japanese government and people
Baron Maxine declared felt poignant
regret that the amendment had not
been incorporated in the covenant
and announced that an effort would
be made to have the principle OF ra-
cial equality adopted as part OF the
document.
| Paul Hymans, representing Belgium
expressed the regret of the Belgian
people at the selection of Geneva as
the seat of the league OF nations, while
approving the high aims of the league
The Urguayan delegate announced
the adhesion of this country to the
league.
| Leon Bourgeois, for France, renew
ed two amendments tending 10 give
France additional security. One pro-
yided for the creation of committee
and naval programs. information re-
sarding ornaments and similar mat
i ters. The other provided for per
manent organization for the purpose
of considering and providing for nava
! and military measures to enforce opil-
Igations arising for the high contract
ing parties under the covenant, making