Evening star., 1920-02-11
ABSENCE Of j. S.
|NLEAGUE COUNCIL
IS CALLED ABBOT
With No Representatives at
London, State Department
Will Keep Informed.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON. February 1.-THE coun-
Gil of the league of nations formally
opened its meeting here at noon to-
day. Arthur J. Balfour, representing
Great Britain. assumed the chair on
the suggestion of Leon Bourgeois.
representative of France.
In his, speech of welcome to the
delegates, Mr.. Balfour said there was
only one blot on the meeting. and
that was that there were eight nations
reREesegted instead Of nine., He s1isi
nDssnss si ls hited stssss. Sn Snt the ne
referred to 1t as marring the SYM
metry Of the original. plan Of the
league.
Nj. Bourgeois, in reply, added a
word of regret that the nations rep
The council of the league met in
the historic picture gallery Of st.
James Palace. which was built by
Henry VIII. Immediately below his
portrait a large table was placed for
the accommodation of the members
The remainder of the gallery was
apportioned for the 16O invited
guests. including all the ambassadors
and ministers of the allied, associated
and. neutral powers, other disttn-
guished public men and the press.
The opening meeting at noon was
of a more or less formal nature, to
deal with the programs of the pro-
ceedings of the subsequent meetings.
which will occupy Thursday as well
as today, some sessions being public
and others private. This afternoons
representative. presiding. was pri-
vate.
The nations represented at the
meeting were Belgium. Brazil. Great
Britain, France, Greece. Italy. Japan
and Spain.
Davis Not to Attend.
Ambassador Davis at London will
ings of the supreme council and the
council of the league of nations, it
was said today at the State Depart
ment. These meetings have been
transferred from Paris and will be
held in London until settlement of
the exact status OF Switzerland in its
relations to the league makes 1t pos
sible to again consider Geneva as q
meeting place.
Ambassador Wallace attended the
meetings of the supreme council at
Paris during the discussion of the
Fiume question and others remaining
unsettled. but his functions were
server and reporter.
Many questions of interest to the
United States are to be decided by
the league council. but since this
country has not yet become a member
of the league 1t will not be repre-
sented even informally in the council 8
sessions.
Will Keep Informed.
Because Of the extensive American
interests, financial and commercial.
which will be affected by the work of
the reparation commission operating
under the league council. the State
Department will keep itself informed
as to events at London.
The council is expected at its early
meetings to frame policies which will
govern the admission of raw material
into the late enemy countries and the
distribution of German and Austrian
products among the entente and asso-
oiated powers.
AS the International supreme court
which is to be created under the terms
of the treaty is a purely American
conception, and so far has developed
no opposition from any of the factions
in the Senate. it is expected that some
soundings will be made by the coun-
ell to ascertain the desires of the
washington government regarding
the membership of this boo :.