Arizona republican., 1919-04-29
COVENANT .|S ADOPTED BY
 PLENARY SESSION
On Motion of U. s. President Document Is Approved Sir James Eric Drummond Becomes First Secretary General - Other Amend ments Withdrawn

PARIS, April 2S.-(By the Associated Press).-The covenant of the league Of nations in revised form, moved by President Wilson, was adopted today by the peace conference in plenary session. without dissenting vote The presi- dents motion also named Sir James Eric Drummond, as secretary general of the league. and provided for a com mittee to inaugurate the league.
 Thus one of the notable works of the conference passes it's final 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 as the session, but the name of Italy appears as one of the members of the league in the covenant as finally adopt ed. Nine labor principles were adopted for insertion in the treaties The ses- sion adjourned without considering 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 ! perors prosecution. This however. has not as yet been adopted by the plensry l conference
 Session of Unusual Interest ] The session opened at 3 o'clock rf1ss 1 afternoon in the French foreign office 1 under circumstances of unusual inter est, because of the fact that it was to l be one of the last sessions before the meeting with the German delegates at 1 Versailles; that final action was to be l 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 Germa n emperor and others, and because i'm : portant labor clauses were to be in serted in the treaty.
 President Wilson was recognized at the outset for a detailed explanation of the new covenant.
 His speech confirmed the explanation of the textual changes and named Bel gium, Brazil. Greece and Spain on the league council. and also on the com mittee to prepare plans for the first meeting of the league.
 Baron Makino, head of the Japanese delegation, in a. brief speech, called renewed attention to the Japanese amendment on racial equality. He said that the race question was a standing grievance, which might become a dan gerous issue at any time, and an nounced that an effort would be made to have the people of racial 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, whils approving the high aims of the league. , The Uruguayan delegate announced ] the adhesion of his country to thf league.
 t Leon Bourgeois, for France, renewed
 two amendments tending to give France
 additional security. One provided fol the creation of a committee to ascer-
 tain and exchange military and maya
 programs, information regarding arma- t ments and similar matters. The othel provided for a permanent organization for the purpose of considering and pro , viding for naval and military measures to enforce obligations arising for. thu high contracting parties under tn
 covenant, making it immediately oper , ative in all cases of emergency" M. Bourgeois argued that such SC = curity was essential to France, becaus
 of the extended frontiers of that coun
 try, which as President Wilson had de
 clared in the French senate, were tn
 frontiers of the worlds liberties
 The amendments of M. BourSeoi
 however. were not pressed.
 NJ. C1emenceau then put the questiol
 of the adoption of President Wilson
 motion, which prevailed without
 formal vote.
 The covenant was declared adoptel
 and the session proceeded to the labo
 report. reciting nine principles for in