New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
Peace Parlev
News Control
Now Feared
Republican Senators De.
nounce Plan TO Send Creel
to Report" Conference
Tribune Washington Bureau

Tribune Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-Federal
cable control was to-day declared nee
essary by Postmaster General Burle-
son to insure uninterrupted. continu-
Gus communication" with Europe.
Republican Senators, in public state
ments issued simultaneously with the
Burleson explanation, took direct issue.
and charged that the belated cable con-
troll was move to control the passage
of news dispatches both from the peace
conferences to this country and vice
versa.
1t was pointed out that George Creel
and corps of assistants would "cover"
the peace conference, and this fact was
interpreted as further evidence of the
intention Of the Administration to con-
troll news of the peace discussions.
There is no doubt in my mind"
Senator Watson, of Indiana, said, "that
the intention is not only to control
the news that comes to this country
from the conference, but to stop any
news going from this side to Europe
which might embarrass the President"
Debate Is Imminent
Senator Watson announced he would
speak on this subject Thursday. Sena-
tor Sherman, of Illinois, also expects
to express his views. He served notice
on Senator Curtis, of Kansas, Repub-
lican whip, that the Presidents de-
cision to go to Europe forced him to
object to the proposed adjournment of
Congress Thursday. If adjournment is
not taken, members will lose their
mileage.
Senator Sherman objected most
strenuously to the government having
control of the cables. with the Pres
ident 5000 miles away, and with 'Creel
along to pinch the cables there will
be no way for the people of this coun-
try to force attention to their wishes"
he said. The President, he is certain,
at that distance, will pay no heed to
what may be said and done in Con-
gress.
There was no emergency warranting
taking over the cables, Senator Sher-
man said. The Presidents action, he
considers, was merely another instance
of these apostles of government own
ership" trying to get everything in
their clutches.
Called Political Move
"Government ownership" Senator
Sherman observed, as a convenient
alias fer political ownership
"Taking the cables" he said, "was
an arrogant abuse of power delegated
by Congress to meet an emergency
when the emergency no longer exists" ="
1t has been hinted for some time taat
Creel would 20 to the peace confer
ence, and it appears now that he will
take with him two or three men from
the Washington office and virtually
all Of the foreign press bureau staff
, in New York. While he is going there
cstenslbly to write Americanized re-
ports Of the conference for neutral
countries, there is every indication
that he will take charge of all Ameri-
can press arrangements.
Scores of newspaper men are going
from here and are anxious to have a
man experienced in handling national
conventions and other big events to be
there. When the suggestion was made
to Creel, he objected. leaving the i'm
preston that he himself is the best
man fitted for the task.
It is more than probable that Creel
Will come in for part of Thursdays
discussion in the Senate.
II do not object to the President
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