The Washington times., 1918-06-13
DEBATE IN SENATE
MISSES POINT OF
SECRET DIPLOMACY
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Ccoutinued from First PAGE !

EAENM EAAGsN
have the same non-partisan eonsid-
Grafton that q treaty does Il Is the
act Of the executive branch Of the
Government, and has the same weight
as q treaty. but since Congress doss
not participate In Il. there Is no way
for public opinion OF all parties 70
express itself In discussion Of terms
AEreenent VIA JaOaa.
The Lansing-Ishii agreement re-
Gently concluded between the United
States and Japan is q case IN point.
II was In the Interest Of good reia-
tions and during the war was egpe-
eially in the interest OF good rsla-
tions between co-belligerent8, but The
same kind OF an agreement involving
obligations Just as vital as any treaty
could be made In other times and
with other countries By the executive
branch Of the Government In absolute
secrecy and public opinion would BE-
compelled to swallow u because no
announcement would be made untu
after the agreement had been mada.
While It Is true that negotiations
between governments especially thoss
that lead up 20 the exchange of dip
iomatic notes cannot be conducted e.
feetively in public halls or forums,
nevertheless the American people
have been protected IN the past b
the enterprising Ainquisitiveness o.
the American press. But In the case
OF the recent japanese Agreement, q
was especially stipulated 70 the pre1B
that no speculation On the matters
under discussion Be printed
President Wilson's Administratfoa
has q remarkable hold on public con-
fdence. particularly In the manage.
ment Of foreign Affairs, but under our
inheKible system OF Government,
which permits no change In four
ye;-rs. a less responsive Executive or
Cabinet could embark upon dednita
policies in diplomatic notes which tha
American people, II they had the
opportunity. either BY an election or
through their representatives In Con-
gress to express themselves, would
not sanction.
Policy Of Administration
War conditions may make neesS
sary extraordinary measures. but
even before the United States en-
tered the war It was the policy of
the present Administration to restrict
its output Of information to the an
nouncement Of a completed agree
ment and the progress Of q nsgotia-
ton in which the people through tha
press could have Affected favorably
or adversely.
Senator Borah's fight for open
diplomacy struck at a custom that
isn't really very serious--the eonsid-
Grafton in secret session OF treaue9
submitted for ratification Some
times It Is necessary 70 speak pretty
plainly about the suspected motives %
other countries IN order that misun-
derstandings and doubts be cleared
away, and this could not be done n
open session.
But the Idaho Senator has started
washington thinking about the whole
problem OF secret diplomacy, and un-
auestionably the movement will some
day include the question Of diplomatic
notes and executive agreements. There
is at present no law to compel the
Executive to consult Congress In the
making OF diplomatic agreements, but
some Administ strations rarely took .
step without advising with the SEN
ate or House Committees on Foreign
Affairs.
II the executive branch still IN
sisted that secrecy was essentlal 70
the making Of diplomatic agreements
both the majority and minority mem-
bers OF Congressional committees oe
Foreign Relations could be uusted
to keep the confidence, but all shades
OF American opinion would thus have
been party to the transaction, a cir
cumstance that would add no little
TO its weight and effectiveness In
other lands.
K.e, the potatoes her. and Ssnd ths