four countries, greece, spain, argentina and uruguay, sent delegates from newly formed national suffrage societies, which were accepted in the alliance. in addition there were present women from armenia, the crimea, lettonia, lithuania, luxembourg, new zealand, poland, turkey and the ukraine. for the first time women from india and japan came to tell of the beginnings of the organized movement among the women of the east. it was only the difficulties of travel which prevented the delegates who had started on their journeys from china, egypt and palestine from arriving in time for the congress. for the first time more than half the voting delegates represented countries in which women had the full suffrage. the consequent increased political importance of the congress was recognized by the governments of the world, of which eighteen in europe appointed official representatives, and the united states of america and uruguay of south america. the secretariat of the league of nations also sent a representative.