The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-15

DAY. he received 35 votes to q
votes for President Motta Of Swift
xerland and one each for EXPIRES
ident Ado. Of Switzerland and
Leon Bourgeois Of France.
Geneva, Nov. 15.-(Havas.)-
Paul Hymans, Of Belgium, was
elected president OF this 10 aaue of
nations by the assembly Of the
league at it's first session here
today. He received 35 out of II
M. Hymans is a former foreign
minister of Belgium and head OF
the Belgian delegation in the as
sembly Of the league.
Standing. before a cheap wooden
desk wiz a background OF potted
palms. Foreign Minister Paul Hymans.
of Belgium, raped for order shortly
after II o'clock and the meeting was
under way.
The hopes OF millions of people Of
ali nations are upon us as We begin our
labors here today" said M. Hymans.
The. end of history's greatest conflict
has left the world exhausted and full
Of doubts and fears. We commence. a
new world era In which men hope TO
rettle sanely and in all reasonableness
their differences and to end armed
. quarrels."
= Most OF the delegates of the forty
one nations represented were in their
seats an hour or SO before the meeting
was called to order, They occupied
plain wooden benches like those of an
American schoolroom.
The meeting room Is a-great, barn.
like structure with seats set aside for
spectators and the press. All were filled
to overfiowing long before the history
session opened. Outside the building
the picturesquely uniformed Swiss gen.
darmes held back the great crowd OF
sightseers, which cheered loudly as mo-
tor cars raced up depositing. diplomats
from the various countries. There was
loud buzz of conversation in the room
with groups of representatives OF the
various powers gathered in earnest con-
versation. The subdued hum of their
talk did not subside until the gaveI of
upon his desk.
President Motta. Of the Swiss fedora
ron had welcomed the delegates In be-
nalf OF Switzerland in an appropriate
little speech. He said it was a happy
idea for the league of nations to begin
its real labor on the shores OF the quiet
Swiss lake country, where peace held
sway even while the names of war were
racing over Europe.
Among Those Present.
"ASih wiz nave Deen long prominent
In the ares of world politics were pres
ent when the meeting was called to
order: A.. }. Balfour head OF the Brit.
lsn deiegation. was not able to be
present. p,,eea but there we're in the hall
come well known to the reading public
during the last few years Among
them We're Tomaso Tittoni. OF Italy:
Leon Leon Bourgeois and Revinin Of
Tfsn; STrsnce; Sir Robert Borden. of Canada;
keishiro aMtsui. of Japan, and Jose
Quinones de Leon. of Spain. south
africa was represented by Lord Rob-
ert Cecil former British assistant sec
fetary OF state fer foreign affairs.
Lord RobeEt 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 G.eat Britain's representa-
yves. The action of the Union OF
south Africa In naming him to act in
behalf of that British dominion was
@ne OF the most interesting develop-
nents of the work preliminary to the
heeting of the assembly.
Most OF the South and Centra.
american countries have full delega-
zion here among whom were Honorio
Rueyrrehon. of Argentina. Dr. Caste
pu Cunha. of Brazil; Antonio Huneus.
~ Chile; Manuel Peralta, of Costa
Rlca; Or. Carlos Uruta. of Columbia;
Arias. of Panama; DIR. Mariana II.
Aorne1o, of Peru; DR.. Juan Carlos
itlanco. of Uruguay and DR.. Arturo
Il, Avila.. of Salvador.
U. S. Not Reported.
n The United States was not reported
N6tiicially at today's meeting. but
throughout the session there will be
present American "observers" who will
] keep Washington fully informed OF de-
Yelopments.
AT meeting OF the council Of the
league yesterday. arrangements were
\ made for the United States to have a
Il representative on the financial COM
e mission as well as the commissions on
s economies and mandates. should she
so desire. Honduras and Ecuador are
the only ether American nations which
did not send delegates to the meeting
Of the assembly.
Election OF permanent president
and several presidents and the
appointment of a few committees was
the first work to be disposed of by
md severalthe assembly II is believed
tn next ten days will be devoted to
discussions of the agenda of the meet
ing. and during this time commissions
wilhe at work on different questions
to no. laid before the assembly.
1t Is probable reports from these
missions will not be ready for
entation for a fortnight. The task
raining recommendations will then
lie taken up. and 1t is believed the ad-
iolirnment will not he taken for three
or four weeks.
system Of Disarmament. u
definite system OF disarmamenSS
and a plan for using the economic
bloc ade against nations that trans
gress tho orders of the league will ue
among the principal subjects discussed.
In addition the plan for an interna-
tionai court which was framed at
brussels during last summer will re-
ceive attention. Japan Is not expected
TO nring proposals on racial equality
before the meeting. but she is expected
to take n prominent part I'm the de-
tberations.
Discuss United States Election,
The result OF the presidential elec-
ton in the United States has been
topic OF conversation among delegates
mere. but there abs been no indica-
act on touch with either Washington
or with w. G. Harding. the American
resident elect. The Russian situation
may be one of the topics brought be-
fore the meeting; the defeat Of Gen.
baron WranEeFs forces In South Rus
sia having brought about a new phase
In the affairs OF Russia, and II seems
that recognition Of the soviet govern
ment viii be at least Informally dis
cussed before the assembly adjourns.
Subjects 20 come before the assem-
bly, at the instance of individual mem-
Der nations are several proposed
1 amendments 10 the covenant, some OF
which aim at improving the position
Of the smaller nations within the
leagu, while one submitted by Holland,
deals with the covenant provision for
suppression Of the opium traffic IN the
20 -, ..t... "A 49, .n,,,ru ~ ,he