Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-26
SECRECY REGIME
In World Affairs Thing
of Past
All Discussion Must Be Frank and
Open in Coming Peace Conference
View Expressed by Editor Of
Manchester Guardian

Manchester, Eng. Dec. 24--"When
we speak OF eliminating secrecy, we
do not Of course. mean that reporters
should attend the peace conference.
but that, though the discussions are
private, the results should be pub
lished. and that not at the close of
the negotiations, but throughout
them"
This view was expressed today by
c. =. Scott, editor. of the Manchester
Guardian. in d talk with The Asso-
ciated Press on the question of sec
recy at the peace conference.
NATURALLY there are drawbacks,
continued the Guardians editor.
Delicate matters, involving special
national interests and national pride,
may in some ways be more difficult
of adjustment when made the sub
ject of public controversy, but on the
other hand the only means of bring
ing effective pressure to bear IN the
/ ScIbIGl lnteItSt tSstlilSl fttL III t,tsA
, interests. is by publicity.
DOUBTLESS public discussion would
need to be conducted with restraint
and under a esnsc of responsibility
and with Gnbrokcn friendliness,
That would be the duty of the pub
lie everywhere. who would then be
come in a real sense parties of n ne
Nv, hn n - ,lt q III
are involved. 1t would be the duty
Of the newspapers. SO powerful in
this matter, to assist. But the fund
amental reason for breaking with the
old tradition of secrecy arises out OF
the very conception and the primary
object Of the conference.
The conference is. or ought to be
the coming together of the nations
in the world in tire 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 dcminent there IS no
reason for secrecy. Publicity is the
surest means OF keeping them doni-
' incnt.
AS the President has we'll said
the international relation We now
seek to establish. is the relation OF
understanding and of friendship,
! We had better begin as we intend
: to so on. Again. though the primary
, object of the conference is TO cs-
tablish and maintain this relation OF
amity between the nations, there Is
no intention or possibility of over
! riding essential national rights. The
nation, rightly regarded and defined
remains as the distinctive unit III
the new order even more definitely
than in the old. but a league Of ma
/ tions involves rightly and OF neces-
! sity certain restrictions on indepcn-
! dent national action subNertive u
! the common veal.
, THE nature and limits of these re
/ str;ctions' need to he deeply consid-
| cred and defined Every nation has
a right to know how much OF its un-
| restricted and sometimes anarciiiG
/ freedom of action it is expected It
! .urrcnded, and for this also frank
! and open discussion is needed in orde,
! to remoce natural prejudiceand meet
! al reasonable objections.
+ Lastly, or perhaps we should put
! this consideration first Of all. we are
here concerned With defining Tho
rights and building up the effective
! union of the free peoples with max
ing. to use a famous phrase. II,
7 world safe for democracy, the abiG'
, ing home OF freedom. But freedom
implies free play of public opinion
( and popular forces. 1t would Do
wholly inconsistent with this con
! ception Of social organization and 81
! government to hide from the peoples
/ the making of the structure of free
! dom In which they are hcarafter L
7 dwell Such procedure of conceal
inent belongs to the era when "SoV
ereigns and statesmen were 10 or
dam and peoples to obey and fol
low All Europe is saying good By
/ to that and joining her Vocie to tina
| of America. We must take counce
! together on the ground of the future
not of the past"