New-York tribune., 1918-12-26
Publicity at Peace
Meeting Demanded
BY English Editor
c. p. Scott, of ssThe Manches-
ter Cuardian,'' Says Ma
tions Must Know What
the Diplomats Are Doing

MANCHESTER, Dec. "a. "When we
speak of eliminating secrecy, we do
pot, OF course, mean that reporters
should attend the peace conference, but
that, though the discussions are private
the results should be published, and
that not at the close of the negotia-
tlons, but throughout them"
This view was expressed to day by
c. p. Scott, editor Of "The Manchester r
Guardian" in talk with The Asso-
ciatcd Press on the question of secrecy
at the peace conference.
Naturally there are drawbacks,'
continued the editor "Delicatc mat
ters, involving special national in
terests and national pride, may in some
ways be more difficult of adjustment
when made the subject Of public con-
troversy, but on the other hand, the
only means of bringing effective
pressure to bear in the general interest
against particular interests is by pub
licity.
Against Old Practices
Doubtless public discussion would
need to be conducted with restraint
and under a sense Of responsibility
and with unbroken friendliness. That
W uld be the duty Of the public every
where, who would then become, in
real sense, parties to negotiation
in which the interests of all are in
volved. 1t would be the duty of the
newspapers, so powerful in this matter,
to assist. But the fundamental reason
for breaking with the old tradition of
secrecy arises out Of the very con-
ceptivn and the primary object of the
conference
"The conference is, or ought to be,
the coming together of the nations in
the common interest of the world, and
for the attainment of objects in which
all are equally concerned AS long as
this motive and object are dominant
there is no reason for secrecy. Pub
licity is the surest means of keeping
them dominant.
World Peace Is Sought
Gas President Wilson has we'll said,
the international relation we now seek
to establish is the relation of under
standing and of friendship. We had
better begin as we intend to go on.
Again, though the primary object of
the conference is to establish and
maintain this relation of amity be-
tween the nations, there is no inten-
tion or possibility of overriding essen
tial national rights. The nation rightly
regarded and defined, remains as the dis
tinctive unit in the new order even more
definitely than in the old, but league
of nations involves rightly and of
necessity certain restrictions on in
dependent national action subversive
Of the common veal.
"The nature and limits of these re-
strictions need to be deeply considered
and carefully defined. Every nation
has right to know how much of its
and sometimes anarchic
freedom of action it is expected to sur
render. and for this also frank and
open discussion is needed in order to
remove natural prejudice and meet all
reasonable objections.
Fair Play Is Sought
Lastly, or perhaps we should put
his consideration first Of all, we are
lcre concerned with defining the rights
and building up the effective union of
.he free peoples-with making, to use
4 famous phrase, the world safe for
democracy, the abiding home of free
}om. But freedom implies free play
of public opinion and popular forces |