The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-29
Text of Presidents Speech
 Before the Plenary Session

The last paragraph of article 16 is new | providing for an expulsion from the league in certain extraordinary circum- | stances.
 Article 21 is new.
 1 'The second paragraph of article 2
 inserts the words with regard to rnanda- lstories. and who are willing 10 accept .t. l thus explicitly introducing the principle | that q mandate cannot be forced upon
 q nation unwilling to accept it. ] Article 23 is combination of several former articles and also contains the fol- | lowing: clause providing for the just
 treatment of Aborigines; a clause toward
 a prevention of the white slave traffic and the tmffic in opium. and q clause l looking toward progress in international
 prevention and control of disease.
 Article 25 specincaliy mentions the Red ! Cross as one of the international organ I izations which are to connect their wo- with the work of the league. l Article 26 permits the amendment Of the covenant by majority of the states composing the assembly, insteid of three : fourths of the states, though it does net change the requirement. in that matter
 with regard to the vote in the council. MEMBERS MAY DISSENT
 "The second paragraph of article 26 is also new and was added at the request of the Brazilian delegation, in order to avoid certain constitutional difficulties. It permits any member of the league to dissent from an amendment, the effect of such dissent being withdrawal from the league
 And the annex is added, giving the names of the signatories of the treaty. who become members, and the names St the states invited to accede to the covei nant.
 These are all the changes, I believe. which are of moment.
 MT. President I take the opportunity to move the following resolutions in or+ der to carry out the provisions of the covenant. You will notice that the cove- nant provides that the first secretary gens eral shall be chosen by this conference. It also provides that the first choice of the four member states who are to S4 added ito the five great powers on th4 council is left to this, conference. q move. therefore. that the first sect retary general of the council shall be thA Hon. James Eric Druminond. and. sec4 ond. that until such time as the assent bly, shall have selected the first four members of the league to be represented on the council in accordance with article of the covenant, representatives of Bel gium. Brazil Greece and Spain shall be members, and, third, that the powers to uc SptcScHtcu oii ttic COuilSii OA IkO league of nations are required to namo representatives who shall form a conn mittee of nine to prepare plans for the organization of the league and for the establishment of the seat of the league and to make arrangements and to pre- Iare the agenda for the first meeting of the assembly. this committee to report both to the council and to the assembly of the league.
 OTHER POINTS CLEAR
 T think it not necessary to call your attention to other matters we have pre- viously discussed the capital significance of this covenant: the hopes which are en- tertained as to the effect 1t will have upon steadying the affairs of the world, and the obvious necessity that there should be a concert of the free nations Of the world to maintain justice in inter- rational relations the relations between people and between the nations of the world.
 If Baron Makino will pardon me for introducing a matter which absent-
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