Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-16
WORLD LEAGUE
BECOMES FACT
WITHOUT u. S.
Supreme Council of Nations
Effects Organization in
Paris Meeting.
FRENCH SENATOR HEAD

PARIS, Jan. 16.-The league of ma
tions-without American member
ship or representation-took it's place
as a world institution today
It came into being in a solemn in
auguraI meeting of the leagues SUI
preme council in the historic CLOCK
room" of the French foreign Office.
It was in this same spot where the
league idea was born eleven months
ago. s
Leon Bourgeois. president of the
French senate, was elected permanent
president
Neither Ambassador Wallace, nor any
subordinate American official, was pres
ent Each speaker regretfulIy referred
to that fact. The only Americans to
watch the hands of the famous great
clock sweep through the hour in which
the great powers formally launched ther
effort to place international affairs on a
basfs of Justice and cooperation We're
newspa permen.
The meeting began at 1895 a. m. It
adjourned at II 80.
REPRES ENTATIVES
AT FIRST SESSION.
In addition to NJ. Bourgeois, who repre-
sented France, the following delegates
A<EFere named by the various powers as
their representatives to the meeting:.-
Great Britain, Earl Curzon, foreign
secretary; Italy, Signor Ferr3r;s. minister
of labor; Belgium. Paul Hymans, foreign
minister; Japan, Yiscount nlnGa AM
bassador to Great Britain; Spain, Count
Quinone de Leon, ambassador to France;
Greece Premier Eleutherlos Venizelos;
Portugal, DR.. Alfonso Costa; Brazil, DR..
Da CUnha, ambassador to France.
Bourgeois delivered the opening sd
dress, followed by Earl Curzon of Great
Britain, secretary of state for foreign
affairs.
The league of nations has been allotted
several distinct tasks, President Bour-
geois said in bis opening address. First
is the practical execution of the clauses
Of the treaty of Versailles. Then the
constitution provides international or
ganlzations for regulation OF economic
and social life that will form the founda
tions for the new era now opening.
Finally there is the international regu-
latlon Of labor conditions to insure vel
fare of the workers aud social peace
towards which already much has been
gatcompHshed
3THEN TURNS TO
&URGENT QUESTIONS.
The president then took the questions
4 which the council must settle immedi-
ately under terms Of the peace treaty
and the league covenant.
Reorganization OF the league will not
be complete until an assembly of all
states comes together" Bourgeois cor
tinued "Among the states invited to
join within two months after the treaty
Of peace became effective, Spain, Argen.
tine. Paraguay, Chile and Persia already
have accepted.
Even If the league thus remains IN
complete until a later date, today's meet
ing nevertheless bears the character Of
the first solemn act. Today viii go
down In history as the date of the birth
of the new world. This decision is to
be taken today in the name Of the states
adhering to the covenant of the league.
1t will be the first decree Of all free
nations ieaguing themselves together for
the first time in the history of the world
TO substitute right for might "
HOPES U. s. SOON
WILL TAKE, SEAT.
Referring to the failure of the United
States to accept the league, Bourgeois
said.
1.-THE task Of presiding at this meeting
and Inauguration Of the greatest of in
ternational institutions should have fallen
TO President Wilson.
Eve respect the reasons which still
delay the decision of our Washington
friends, but we express hope these soon
Will be overcome and a representative
of the United States will occupy place
amongst us.
'The councils work then will assume
that definite character and that particu-
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