LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1920, Page 3

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABBB ASSOCIATION} LEAGUE ASSEMBLY. THE OPENING MEETING. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) GENEVA, Nov. 15. The Swiss President Motta, opened the Assembly of the League of Nations. Forty-two countries are represented. M. Hyman (Belgium) was elected Presi. dent of the Assembly, by ballot. THE OPENING SCENES. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, Novembor 15. The Australian Press Association correspondent telegraphs from Geneva that the city was en. 'fete early to-day. The streets were profusely decorated with flags of all nations and crowded with spectators. At 10.30 all the bells in the cantonment rang merrily and a procession headed by Gendarmerie and'Hussars conducted the members of the Federal Council and' Chamber to the Hall of tho Information, which was selected for the first meeting’ of the first Parliament of the world. The interior of the Hall is plain "to severity. Members of the League occupied benches on the ground floor, with 150 pressmen in the first gallery and general public in the upper gallery. The delegates were seated in alphabetical order of their nations. Mi Millen occupied a seat immediately in front of the Tribune and New Zealand half way up the hall. Mr Hymans.(Belgium) read the oroclamation summoning the League. /Then President Motta on behalf of Switzerland welcomed the delegates. , Motta proposed Hymans as first Prcsi- ■ dent o 5 the Assembly and he was elected by 35 to 6. THE PRESIDENT’S REPLY. 1 (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, November 15. M. Hymans replying to M. Motto’s welcome, referred to the brotherly welcome Slwitzerland gave to prisoners and wounded in war time. The meeting of the great assembly at Geneva would have no inconsiderable place in history. It was a proof of men yearning for an equitable, lasting, peaceful organisation of international relations. The Covenant was not perfect, and could raise no delusive hopes that by some magic wand we were going to transform the world or change man’s character. The League must not be a super state absorbing national sovereignities or reducing them to bondage, but the League must play a powerful part in preventing a national crisis. • M. Hymans concluded —He was convinced that the 'League responds to the need and the appeal from the souls of the people, after the frightful drama out of which they had recently emerged. The League sought step by step, io achieve a reign of international morality and human right.