THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3629, 16 November 1920, Page 5

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

THE GENEVA CONFERENCE. OFFICIALLY OPENED. Received 8.55 a.m. GENEVA, Nov. 15. The Swiss President, M. Motta, opened the Assembly of the League of Nations. Forty-two countries are represented, and M. c Hyman (Belgium) was elected president of the Assembly by ballot. GENEVA EN PETE. Revived 10.20 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 15. The Australian Press Association correspondent telegraph? from Geneva that the city is en ’ fete. Early to-day the streets were profusely decorated -with the flags of all nations, and were crowded with spectators at 1.30. All bells in the cantonment rang merrily, and a procession, headed by gendarmerie! and 'hussars, cohdi&fied Members of the Federal Council and Chamber to the Hall of thg Reformation, which was selected for the first meeting of the First Parliament of the world. The interior of Uu> Hall was plain to severity. Members of the League occupied benches on the ground floor, there were 150 pressmen in the first gallery, and the general public were in the upper gallery. The delegates were seated alphabetical order of their nation's. Millen occupied a seat in front of the Tribune, and Sir James* Allen was seated half-way up the hall. if, Hymans (Belgium) road the proclamation summoning the League, and then President, Motta, on behalf of

Switzerland, welcomed the delegates. He then proposed M. Hymans as the first President of the Assembly, and he was elected by 35 votes to 6, M. Hymans, replying to M. Motta’s welcome, referred, to, the brotherly welcome which Switzerland gave to prisoners wounded in war time. The meeting of this great Assembly at Geneva would have no inconsiderable place in history. It was proof of man’s yearning for an equitable, lasting and .peaceful organisation of international relations, The Covenant would not .be perfect, and could raise delusive .hopes that by some magic wand we were going to transform the world. The League must not be a super-State, absorbing national sovereignties or reducing them to bondage, but the League must play a powerful part in preventing national crises. Ho was convinced that the League responds to a need and an appeal from the -souls of people after' a dreadful dream, out of which they had recently emerged. The League sought, step by step, to achieve a reign of international morality and human right.