The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-11-20
BELGIAN ELECTED
HEAD OF LEAGUE
Paul Hymans Received
Large Majority of
Votes
At Opening Session President Of
Switzerland Expressed Hope
That United States Will Join
League

ISOLATED Press) Paul Hymans,
OF Belgium, was elected perma-
nent president of the league OF
nations at the ope ming session of
the leagues assembly here today.
He received 35 votes to four
votes for President Motta Of
Switzerland and one each for
ex-President Ador of Switzerland
and Leon Bourgeois of Franco.
M. Hymans had called the del
egates to order and introduced
President Motta of Switzerland,
who in his address welcoming the
delegates expressed the hope that
tho United States would not de-
lay much longer in taking Its
legitimate place in the league"
When M. IIymans, who heads
the Belgian delegation and is a
formerly foreign minister of Bel
gium. declared the first session Of
the assembly open. the hall was
crowded with men and women
and there were several women
among the delegates. The toilet
tes. with the qaint red and yell
low gowns Of the Swiss guards,
have touches Of co,or to an other
Wise sober scene.
M. Motta. In his greetings to
the delegates, thanked the peace
conference for having, selected
Geneva. as the seat OF the league
OF nations and also thanked Pres
ident Wilson for calling the meet
Ing OF the assembly In the seat
Ot the league.
The first session of the leagSe
assembly was greeted with the
ringing of all the bells in Ge-
neva after. several minutes 81
lence on the, part Of all the peo-
pla cf the canton. President Mot
ta Of Switzerland was followed by
N. Hyinans.
The Socialist leader Hjalmar
Branting. head OF the Swedish
delegation. provoked the first de-
late by cbjecting to the election
Of Paul Hymans as president OF
tho league by acclamatioh. NJ.
Hymans himself decided the
question py holding that since
one member requested secret
vote. he was entitled to 1t.
a more animated and more sig
nificant discussion grew out OF
the adoption Of the agenda. Lord
Robert Cecil, who represents
South Africa. held that the ap-
plications for membership OF
Albania, Bulgaria and: Austria,
which were received since the
agenda was made up, should be
added to IL.
The assembly So decided ,after
the French delegates NJ. Viviani
and Bourgeois had made it clear
that the applications would be re-
ferred to committee to be ex-
amined and decision taken as
TO whether they would be re-
ceived. This reservation, it Is
contended. will establish a pre-
,eient so that, If Germany d
application is received later the
French delegates will be able to
at once take up the question Of
eligibility. ,s.
The working Organization Of
tho assembly AS formed this ar
tornoon consists of six committees
each with IL members represent
ing all the states attending. All
questions OF the agenda will be di-
vided among these committees
and will come up for debate on
the floor only when the reports
are submitted. Tho presidents OF
these committees will be ex-
officio vice presidents Of the as
sembly.
The debates to6ny clearly in
dicated that Lord Robert Cecil.
Leon Bourgeois, Rene Viviani
and Signor 1ittori are likely to
become leading figures on the
floor and that the small states are
showing a spirit Of independence
and Will not accept prearranged
programs without having their
say.
On motion Of George Nicoll
Barnes of the British delegation.
resolution calling for a mes
sage Of sympathy 10 President
Wilson in his illness was adopt