Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-01-22
FIRST MEETING Of
NATIONS LEAGUE
First Session of Body Gets Pro-
test From Irish.
ITALIAN PRAISES THE U. S.
Leon Bourgeois, Presiding Officer, n
Addressing the Council, Expresses
Regret at Absence Of United
States at the Opening.

Paris, Jan. 17-Representatives Of
France, Great Britain, Italy, Greece,
Belgium, Spain, Japan and Brazil,
members Of the council of the League
Of Nations, met In the "clock" room Of
the French foreign office for the first
meeting in the history Of the league.
The council organized at 10 80
o'clock by electing Leon Bourgeois
chairman and confirming the choice Of
Sir Eric Drummond Of Great Britain
as general secretary.
The first official act of the council
was the appointment Of a commission
70 trace upon the spot the frontiers
Of the territory of the Sarre basin.
TIE council received it's first formal
protest to be presented to it almost
before it came into being with today's
initial session. The protest was from
"the ENJOYS of the elected government
Of the Irish republic" against "the un-
real English Simulance of an inter-
national league of peace"
Sig. Ferraris, on behalf of ITALY,
said his nation was glad to respond to
the invitation 'of the president and
the great American people," He add
ed that among the duties Of the league
would be to give attention to the high
cost of transportation, the high cost
of living, and the state Of internation-
al finance
Bourgeois in Address.
con Bourgeois, French representa-
tive, who presided. said:
"The task of presiding at this meet
Ing and inaugurating this great inter-
national institution should have fallen
to President Wilson. We respect the
reasons which still delay final decision
by our friends in Washington, but ex-
press the hope that their difficulties
soon will be overcome and that rep
reSentative of the great American re-
public will occupy the place awaiting
him among us. The work Of the coun-
ell will then assume definite charac-
ter and will have that particular force
which should be associated with our
work.
January Is. 1920, will go down in
history as the date of the birth of new
world. Decisions to be reached will
be in the name of all nations adher-
ing to the first covenant of the league.
1t will be the first decree of all free
nations leaguing themselves together,
for the first time in the world TO sub
stitute right for might But the or
IganiZation of the League of Nations
will not be complete until the assem-
bly, of all the states meets"
Gives British Views.
Earl CurZon, British secretary of
state for foreign affairs, and that ma
.tion's representative on the council OF
the league, said:
"On behalf of the British empire, |
desire to express the loyalty of my
government and the external domin-
ions of the British crown to the spirit
underlying the covenant of the League
OF Nations. 1t is our intention, by
every means in our power, to insure
Its practical efficiency. 1t is our firm
belief that through its instrumentality
,alone we can hope tc insure that such
i'i'NiiS' Iiit't lilc WoTtu udS oXpcrl-
Ienced during the last five years shall
not be repeated and that a new era of
international relationship shall dawn.
"The League of Nations is an ex-
preston of the universal desire for
saner methods of regulating affairs of
mankind, and provides machinery by
which practical effect may be given
the principles of international friend
ish'n and good understanding. The sue.
c, he laho"~ oF ihc nca..e ron.