Middletown transcript., 1920-11-20
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
ASSEMBLY OPENS
Paul Hymans, Former Belgian
Premier, Elected President
UNITED STATES IS CHEERED
President Wilson Thanked For Call
ing The Meeting OF The Assem-.
bly, IN The Seat Of The
League.

Geneva.-Paul Hymans, of Belgium
was selected permanent president Of
the League Of Nations at the opening
session of the Leagues assembly here
He received IS votes to votes for Pres
ident Motta, of Switzerland, and ono
Switzerland, and Leon Bourgeois, OF
France.
M. Hymans had called the delegates
to order and introduced President
Motta, of Switzerland, who in his ad
dress welcoming the delegates ex
pressed the hope that the United
States would not delay much longer in
taking its legitimate place in the
league"
When M. Hymans, who heads the
Belgian delegation and is former
foreign minister of Belgium, declared
the first session of the assembly open
the hall was crowded with men and
women and there were several women
among the delegates. Their toilettes,
with the quaint red and yellow gown:
Of the Swiss Guards, gave touches OF
color to an otherwise sober scene.
M. Motta, in his greetings to the
delegates, thanked the Peace Confer
ence for having selected Geneva sS
the seat of the League of Nations
and also thanked President Wilson
for calling the meeting Of the assem-.
bly, in the seat of the league.
The first session Of the League AS
sembly was greeted with the ringing
of all the bells in Geneva after sew
eral minutes silence On the part of
all the people of the canton. Presi-
dent Motta, of Switzerland, was fol-
lowed by M. Hymans.
The Socialist leader, Hjalmar Brant.
ing, head Of the Swedish delegation.
provoked the first debate by object.
ing to the election of Paul Hymans
as president Of the league by acc!a.
nation.
NJ. Hymans, himself. decided the
question by holding that, since one
member requested secret vote, he
was entitled to it.
A more animated and more signi1i-
cant discussion grew out of the adop-
ton Of the agenda. Lord Robert Cecil.
who represents South Africa, held that
the application for membership of Al
bania, Bulgaria and Austria, which
were received since the agenda was
made up, should be added to it.
The assembly so decided, after the
French delegates, N. Viviani and
Bourgeois, had made it clear that the
applications would be referred to a
committee to be examined and a de-
cision taken as to whether they would
be received.
This reservation, it is contended,
will establish a precedent so that, if
Germany's application is received
later, the French delegates will be
able at once to raise the question of
eligibility.
The working organization of the as
sembly was formed this afternoon,
consists of six committees, each with
Il members, representing all the
states attending. All questions on the
agenda will be divided among these
committees, and will come up :or de.
bate on the floor only when the re-
ports are submitted. The presidents
of these committees will be ex-officio
vice-presidents of the assembly.
The debates clearly indicated that
Lord Robert Cecil, Leon Bourgeois,
Rene Viviani and Signor Titoni are
likely to become leading figures on the
floor, and that the. small states are
showing spirit Of independence and
will not accept prearranged programs
without having their say.