The final act[360] is described by eye-witnesses as follows.  Congruously with the order of the day, President Wilson having moved that the city of Geneva be selected as the capital of the future League, obtained a majority, whereupon he announced that the motion had passed.

Then came the burning question of the equality of nations.[361] The Polish delegate arose and opposed it on the formal ground that nothing ought to be inserted in the preamble which was not dealt with also in the body of the Covenant, as otherwise it would be no more than an isolated theory devoid of organic connection with the whole.  The Japanese delegates delivered speeches of cogent argument and impressive debating power.  Baron Makino made out a very strong case for the equality of nations.  Viscount Chinda followed in a trenchant discourse, which was highly appreciated by his hearers, nearly all of whom recognized the justice of the Japanese claim.  The Japanese delegates refused to be dazzled by the circumstances that Japan was to be represented on the Executive Council as one of the five Great Powers, and that the rejection of the proposed amendment could not therefore be construed as a diminution of her prestige.  This consideration, they retorted, was wholly irrelevant to the question whether or no the nations were to be recognized as equal.  They ended by refusing to withdraw their modified amendment and calling for a vote.  The result was a majority for the amendment.  Mr. Wilson thereupon announced that a majority was insufficient to justify its adoption, and that nothing less than absolute unanimity could be regarded as adequate.  At this a delegate objected:  “Mr. Wilson, you have just accepted a majority for your own motion respecting Geneva; on what grounds, may I ask, do you refuse to abide by a majority vote on the amendment of the Japanese delegation?” “The two cases are different,” was the reply.  “On the subject of the seat of the League unanimity is unattainable.”  This closed the official discussion.

Some time later, it is asserted, the Rumanians, who had supported Mr. Wilson’s motion on religious equality, were approached on the subject, and informed that it would be agreeable to the American delegates to have the original proposal brought up once more.  Such a motion, it was added, would come with especial propriety from the Rumanians, who, in the person of M. Diamandi, had advocated it from the outset.  But the Rumanian delegates hesitated, pleading the invincible opposition of the Japanese.  They were assured, however, that the Japanese would no longer discountenance it.  Thereupon they broached the matter to Lord Robert Cecil, but he, with his wonted caution, replied that it was a delicate subject to handle, especially after the experience they had already had.  As for himself, he would rather leave the initiative to others.  Could the Rumanian delegates not open their minds to Colonel House, who took the amendment so much to heart?  They acted on this