Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-12-04
THE LEAGUE ASSEMBLY EI4ECrS
HiALANS EiNST IltESlDENT.


HiALANS FARSI IltESlDENT.
Honor Of Leadership Conferred Over
whelmingly on Belgian
Geneva, NOV. ~~-ProlonBed ap-
,plause greeted the first mention or
the United States IN the opening ses
SIGN OF the league Of nation assem-
bly, today.
Washington ia tho home OF liberty
aud the United States cannot long
remain out Of the league, Premior
Motta, of Switzerland, declared III
his address Of welcome.
More than 100 delegates and tho
crowd of spectators filled the great
"Hall OF Reformation" with hand
,clapping and cheers.
President Wilson and King AL
bert drew q hearty tribute OF ap.
plause when the Premier mentioned
their names.
Geneva, No. 15-Paul Hymans, OF
Belgium, was elected president Of the
league Of nations by the assembly OF
the league at its first session here
today. He received 36 out of Al votes
M. Hyans is former Foreign Min
lister of Belgium and head OF the
Belgian delegation in the assembly
Of the league.
1 When NJ. Hymans who heads the
Belgian delegation and iB former
FOREIGN Minister Of Belgium declar'
ed the first session Of the assembly
open, the hall was crowded with
mon and women and there were sew
eral women among the delegates.
Their toiIettes, with the quaint red
and yellow gowns Of the Swiss
Guards gave touches of color to an
other wise sober scene.
NJ. Motta, in his gteetingC to the
delegates, declared the world hoped
for economic reconstruction to grow
out OF the assembly's debate. He sug
gested the breaking up OF monopolies
in raw materials as n necessary step
READS WILSON'S CONvOCATION
NJ. Hymans, who presided over tho
opening session called the gathering
10 order by reading President VII
e sons convocation. He declared that
the league, starting with fortyetwo
members, was certain Of it's future.
He declared it would be most effec-
1.-Two rs the agent for new era or
international cooperation and har
mony. :
Hymans III OH address immediate
~ following his election, declared
there was a possibility that tho covo
nant would be amended.
"We do not pretend the covenant
IS perfect or that 1t can't be I'M
proved no declared.
Premier MOTH. who welcomed tho
delegates, received four votes for tho
presidency; r. II. Ador of England
and Leon Bourgeois. France. one
each.
Motta declared the world would
realize why the honor had been
awarded Belgian. ST..
The Swiss Premier declared he
wished most ardently that the Unit
ed States will not longer delay "oc-
cupation of her legitimate seat III
this assembly,"
Although there ere plainly evi.
IL dent chasms and inevitable imperfec
lions in the covenant. he said. "tha
foundation will stand oven IL tn"
first work collapses.
MOTTA THANKS CONFERENCE.
IN ....
Motta thanked the peace conference
for designating Geneva as the home
OF tho league OF nations.
The first session OF the league as
sembly was greeted with the ringing
!. OF all the bells In Geneva after sever
! al minutes Of silence on the part Of all
the people of the canton.
GRANTING STARTS DEBATE
Tho Socialist leader. Hjalmar Brnnt
ing, head Of the Swodish delegation,
provoked the first debate by object
ing to the election OF Pull Hymana
as president Of the league by acclama
ton. M. Hymans himself decided tho
question by holding, that since ono
member requested q secret vote, he
was entitled to it.
0 more amin ted AMI more signifI.
cant discussion grew out of the adop
tion OF the aeendn. Lord rohert Cecil
who renrcsents Sou II Africa, held
taht the applications for membership
Of Alb niH, Rule r'r AID Austria.
which were received e'rce the agcuda
was made I'M should he ndded to 1t.
The assembly co "c~ihed nf4cr the
French Delegates NJ v'""n: and Bour
gtois had made il r,~"r that the ami
cations would no rrfor"a1 to " COM
. m:ttco 20 hn "v"m'"~1 ~-,d y dcc'eion
taken DC to wh"the" trev would he
received.
This reec"v"tic~ :. 80 c~nton"e!, will
establish q nrrroI-nt % -, ~ Cow