The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-15
WORLD council
OPENS SESSION
IN GENEVA HALL
Future Potency of League
May Depend Upon Outcome
of Present Meeting-Hope
U. S. Will Soon Be in.
RY NEWTON c. PARKE.
(lnternasional News Service Staff
Correspondent.)

GENEVA. Nov. 15.--Despite non
participation by the United States,
the delegates to the first meeting
of the assembly of the league of ma
tions today announced their readi-
ness to take up at once the world
tproblemE of the future. The future
potency of the league may hinge On
the outcome OF the present meeting.
Standing before cheap wooden
desk. with background of potted
palms, Foreign Minister Paul Hy-
mans, Of Belgium, raped for order
fshortly after ii o'clock. and the
meeting was under way.
THE hopes of millions of peopis
of all nations are upon us as we
begin our labors here today" said M.
Hymans.2 "The end of history's con-
flict has left the world exhausted and
full OF doubts and fears. We COM
mence new world era in which men
hope to settle sanely and in all rea-
sonableness their differences and to
end armed quarrels."
Most or the delegates of the Al
nations represented were in their
seats an hour or SO before Ahe meet
ing was called TO order. They occu-
pied plaiIl wooden benches like those
of an American schoolroom. Roll
call at 11:l5l O'Clock showed all the
delegates present but those repre-
senting Honduras and Liberia
Filled to Overlooking.
The meeting room is great barn
like structure with seats set aside
for spectators and the press. All
were filled to oyeFflowing long be-
fore the historic conference opened.
Outside the building the pictures
quely uniformed Swiss gendarmes
held back the great crowd of sight
seers who cheered loudly as motor
cars raced up, depositing diplomats
from the various countries, There
was loud buzz of conversation in
the room with groups of representa-
tixes OF the various powers gathered
In Ncarnest tallg. The subdued hum
OF their voices did not subside until
the gavel 0f the temporary Chairman
fell sharply upon his desk
President Motta, of the Swiss fed
GRAFTON, had welcomed the delegates
aea behalf syyi tKerland IN an ap-
ffsUpffate 1ftetl he ssEfd y
was q happy idea for the league OF
nations to begin its real labor ON the
shores of the quiet Swiss lake coun-
try where peace held sway even while
the flames of war were raging over
Europe.
The delegates applauded when
President Motta expressed the hope
that the United States would soon
fill her vacant seat"
Tho rnaafif,o Of the nnuncil of the
league OF nations on Sunday lasted
barely an hour when a committee eX-
amined the credentials of delegates.
Following luncheon, when the dele
gates were guests Of the Swiss fed
eral council, the league of nations
council heard the reading of the or
der of the day for the assembly
meeting. 1t is accepted as a fore
gone conclusion that M. Hymans will
be selected president.
In A. B. g. Order.
The delegates We're seated in al
phabetical order and a place was re-
served FOR the Americans despite the
fact that the United States Is not a
member of the league. Reservations
were made according to the French
spelling of the various nations. Thus
"Afrique Sud" represented by Lord
Robert Cecil, has the honor of the
first row of seats to the right of NJ.
Hymans. Argentine was allotted to
space next to "Afrique Sud" If the
United States were represented the
American delegates would occupy the
seats reserved for "Etats Unis," be-
tween Spain and France.
The first murmur of disapproval
arose on Sunday, when it was an
nouneed that Lord Robert Cecil would
represent South Africa instead Of
Gen. j. C. Smuts. Some of the Sean
Continued on Page 2, Column l.)