Evening star., 1920-11-15
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
GENEVA, November 15.-Determi-
nation to meet intricate problems in
"orld affairs and to lay firmly the
foundation stones Of the league of
nations was evident in the demeanor
c. delegates of forty-one countries
when they convened here today for
the nrst session OF the assembly of
the league. Although differences of
OPINION have already arisen relative
" tne Danzig question, the make-up
OF the commission on mandates. the
protection OF racial and religious mi
norlties in Balkan states and the ad-
mission of Germany to the iea1me
with some of her former allies. there
was today an evident disposition ON
the part OF all the deleEates Ia nneer
every situation with fairness and omen
Hino, ana TO enaeavor to reach de-
clslons which would be acceptable.
Men who have been long prominent
In the arena Of world politics were
present when Paul Hymans. temno-
rary. president and former. Belgian
foreign minister. appeared on the
piatrorm OF the Hall Of the Reforma-
tion and called the meeting to order.
A. J. Ralfour, head of the British dele
cation. was not able to be present
but there were in the hall a number
OF men whose names have become well
known to the reading public during
the last few years.
Distinguished Men Present.
Among them were Tomasso Tittoni
OF Italy. Leon Bourgeois and Rene
Ishii and Baron Keishiro Matsui of
Japan. and Jose Quinones de Leon of
Spain. South Africa was represented
by Lord Robert Cecil, former British
assistant secretary Of state for foreign
affairs.
Lord Robert was one of the leading
proponents of the league during the
Versailles peace conference. but was
not selected by Premier Lloyd George
as one Of Great Britain's Representa-
tives. The action Of the Union of
South Africa in naming him to act in
behalf of that British dominion was
one of the most interesting develop
ments of the work preliminary to the
of the assembly.
Most of the South and Central Ameri-
clan republics have full delegations
here for the session. among whom
are Honorio Pueyrredon of ArEen-
tina. DR.. Casio da Cunha of Brazil,
Antonio Huneus of Chile, Manuel Per-
alta of Costa Rica, DIR. Carlos Urueta
of Colombia. Aristides Aguere of
Cuba. Harmodio Arias of Panama. DR..
Mariano II. Cornejo of Peru. DIR. Juan
Carlos Blanco of Uruguay and DR..
Arturo r. Avila of Salvador.
U. s. Has Only @Obseryer..,
The United States was not repre-
sented officially at today's meeting.
but throughout the session there will
be present American observers" who
will keep Washington fully informed
of developments.
At meeting of the council of the
league yesterday ARRANGEMENTS were
made for the United States to have :,
representative on the financial com
mission as well as the commissions or
economics and mandates, should she
SO desire. Honduras and Ecuador are
the only other American nations
which did not send delegates to the
meeting of the assembly.
Election of a permanent president
and several vice presidents and the
appointment of few committees waE
the first work to be disposed Of bv
ten days will be devoted to discus
sions on the agenda Of the meeting
and during this time commissions will
be. at work on different questions
to be laid before the assembly. u
is probable reports from these COM
missions will not be ready for presen-
tation for a fortnight. The task of
framing recommendations will then
be taken up. and it is believed ad-
journment will not be had for three
Principal Objects Of Session.
A definite system of disarmament
and a plan for using the economic
blockade against nations that trane-
gress the orders of the league Will
be among the principal subjects dis
cussed. In addition, the plan for an
court. which was framed
at Brussels during last summer VIII
receive attention Japan is not ex-
pected to bring proposals on racial
is expected to take a prominen mt part
in the deliberations.
The result of the presidential cleo
tion in, the United States has been
topic of conversation among dele
gates here. but there has been no
indication that any effort has been
made to get in touch with either
washington or with Warren G. Hard
ing, the American Presfdent-elect.
The Russian situation may be one
of the topics brought before the meet
ing. the defeat of Gen. Baron Wran-
gels forces in south Russia having
brought about a new phase in the
affairs of Russia, and II seems th;l
recognition of the soviet eovernment
will be at least informally discussed
before the assembly adjour1s.
VIII Discuss Opium Traffic.
Subjects to come before The slsse,,-
bly, at the instance Of individual mem
Der nations are several proposet
amendm ents to the covenant, some OF
which aim at Improving the position